Smoked Sausage Minestrone Food

MINESTRONE WITH KALE AND TURKEY SAUSAGE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Toss the bread on a baking sheet with 1 tablespoon oil and season with salt and pepper. Bake, tossing halfway through, until crisp, 15 to 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat the remaining 1 tablespoon oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the sausage and cook, breaking it up with a wooden spoon, until browned in spots and no longer pink, 4 to 6 minutes. Add the onion, carrots, garlic, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper; cook until almost tender, 6 to 8 minutes.
• Add the kale and cook until just wilted, about 2 minutes. Stir in the tomatoes, chickpeas, pasta, broth and 4 cups water. Cover and bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer until the kale is tender and the pasta is al dente, 3 to 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
• Ladle the soup into bowls. Top with the croutons and season with pepper.

MINESTRONE WITH ITALIAN SAUSAGE

Steps:

• In a Dutch oven, cook sausage and onion over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. Stir in the carrots, celery and leek; cook for 3 minutes. Add the zucchini, green beans and garlic; cook 1 minute longer. , Stir in the broth, tomatoes, cabbage, basil, oregano and pepper. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 45 minutes. , Return to a boil. Stir in the garbanzo beans, pasta and parsley. Cook for 6-9 minutes or until pasta is tender. Serve with cheese.

ITALIAN SAUSAGE MINESTRONE

Steps:

• In a Dutch oven, cook sausage over medium heat until no longer pink; drain., In the same pan, saute the carrots, celery, onion and garlic in oil until tender. Stir in the broth, beans, tomatoes, bay leaves, Italian seasoning, tomato paste and sausage. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 30 minutes, adding pasta during the last 6-8 minutes. Cook, uncovered, until pasta is tender., Freeze option: Before adding pasta, cool soup. Freeze soup and cheese separately in freezer containers for up to 3 months. To use, partially thaw in refrigerator overnight. Place in a Dutch oven. Bring to a boil. Stir in pasta; return to a boil. Reduce heat; cook, uncovered, for 6-8 minutes or until pasta is tender. Serve with cheese.

SAUSAGE MINESTRONE

Steps:

• Put the oil, onions, carrots, celery and garlic in a large saucepan. Cook gently over a low heat for 15 mins or until soft. Meanwhile, tip the sausage pieces into a non-stick frying pan, turn up the heat and sizzle for a few mins to brown. Put to one side.
• Stir tomato purée through the soft vegetables and cook for 1 min more. Pour in the tomatoes, 3½ cans of water and the stock cube. Stir and simmer for 10 mins. Add the sausage pieces and beans, and bubble down for 10 mins until sausages are cooked through. Season and stir in the sugar, vinegar and parsley. Spoon into bowls, adding a Tapenade toast (see 'goes well with') to float, and a drizzle more olive oil, if you like.