If you’re craving hearty, flavorful soup that tastes like it simmered all day, this is it!
I ran into a white bean and spinach soup recipe when I was flipping through my phone a while ago and thought it sounded good. I made a mental note to try it some time. Beans are a nutritional workhorse and cheap to boot. And here in Nebraska, winter just drags on and on! Bleah. Soup helps.
A couple of weeks later I was flying through a neighborhood grocery store for a few items and spotted this Italian sausage at a super markdown. A light bulb went off in my head! (Because you have to know that thoughts of food, pictures of food, descriptions of food and recipe ideas are always dancing around in there!) How about a marriage of sausage, beans, spinach and Parmesan? Bellisimo! I couldn’t wait to scurry home and give it a try.
I made a quick dash to the canned vegetable aisle for some navy beans but settled for great northern beans. I flew through the produce section and snagged a bag of fresh spinach. Armed and ready, I was out the door. Confession: I’m physically unable to do anyhing slowly. Hurry sickness you know. I’m a “goer!” I guess that’s what I love most about our smaller local stores. Great service and I can get in and out FAST!
I plopped the sausage in my tall stockpot and started to brown and break it up. When it began to lose it’s pinkness, I added my usual soup starters, pressed garlic and chopped sweet onions.
By the way, this week I found bulk mild Italian sausage on the meat counter in the “great big” grocery store and bought a pound to try the soup again. I’ll let you know!
Once the onion and garlic started to get soft and fragrant and the sausage was getting a little tinge of brown, I opened the beans, drained and rinsed them and added them to the pot and I dumped in a can of un-drained petite diced tomatoes for more color and Mediterranean flavor.
Next, some water and my not-so-secret ingredients. I love them! So much flavor!! The yummy broth was about to be born! Delizioso!
A little more simmering and then the spinach.
Coarsely chopped, I added for the last five minutes, long enough for it to wilt and get tender. What great color it added!
Less than 30 minutes after I dropped my grocery bags on the counter, I ladled myself a steaming bowl of soup, topped it with a handful of fresh grated Parmesan and sat down to enjoy it. I did! And I even savored it slowly! 😉 Hope you do too!
Italian Sausage and White Bean Soup with Spinach and Parmesan
Quick and easy to prepare using canned navy or great northern beans
Ingredients
- 1 pound bulk Italian sausage
- 1/2 medium onion chopped
- 2-3 cloves garlic pressed
- 1 14.5 ounce can petite diced tomatoes do not drain
- 3 15 ounce cans navy beans or great northern beans drained and rinsed
- 2-3 cups fresh spinach chopped
- 3-4 large cubes Knorr Vegetable Bouillon cubes
- 2 Tbsp Better than Bouillon Roasted Chicken Base
- 12 cups water
- 1 tsp fresh cracked pepper or to taste
- 5 ounce carton shredded fresh Parmesan
Instructions
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Brown and break up sausage in stock pot. Add onion and garlic and cook until onion is soft and translucent. Add water, boullion cubes, pepper, chicken base, tomatoes and drained beans. Simmer for 10 minutes. Add spinach, simmer for a about 5 minutes more or until spinach is wilted and tender.
Ladle into bowls and top with 1-2 Tablespoons of shredded Parmesan. Serve with garlic toast.
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Just made this but left out the spinach. Even my husband liked it and he is a picky eater. Will definitely be making this again.
Great!! I’m so glad to hear that!
Hello, just wanted to say, I loved this blog post. It was helpful.
Keep on posting!
<3 Thank you!