White Bean And Sausage Stew For Slow Cooker Food

SLOW COOKER SAUSAGE, BEAN AND PASTA STEW

Steps:

• Spread the onions over the bottom of a 6- to 7-quart slow cooker and top with the carrots, garlic, white beans, thyme bundle and sausage links. Mix the diced tomatoes with the broth and 3 cups water and pour over the sausages. Add the Parmesan rind if using.
• Cook on high for 4 to 5 hours or on low for 7 to 8 hours; the beans will be tender and begin to fall apart. Uncover the slow cooker, remove and discard the thyme bundle and Parmesan rind and transfer the sausage links to a cutting board. Stir the pasta into the stew and continue to cook, covered, until the pasta is cooked through, about 20 minutes.
• Turn off the heat. Cut the sausages into bite-size pieces and stir into the stew along with the parsley and vinegar. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve with grated Parmesan on the side for sprinkling on top and crusty bread for soaking up the broth.
• Cook's Note: This stew is also a great way to use up leftover cooked pasta. Simply omit the ditalini, reduce the water by 1 cup and stir 1 cup of cooked pasta (cut up if long noodles) into the finished stew along with the sausage pieces.

WHITE BEAN-SAUSAGE STEW

Steps:

• Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add the onion, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper and cook until the onion is just tender, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook 1 minute. Stir in the wine to deglaze the pot and scrape up any browned bits, then simmer until mostly evaporated, 1 to 2 minutes. Stir in the chicken broth, tomatoes, beans, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the tomatoes are soft and the mixture is thickened, 12 to 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, preheat the broiler. Toss the sausages with the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil on a baking sheet. Broil, turning halfway through, until well browned and cooked through, 6 to 8 minutes. Let rest about 5 minutes.
• Remove the bean mixture from the heat and stir in the arugula until just wilted; spoon into bowls. Slice the sausages in half and add to the bowls. Top with basil and cheese.

SLOW-COOKER WHITE BEANS AND KIELBASA

Steps:

• In a 4- to 6-quart slow cooker, combine the beans, kielbasa, broth, tomatoes (and their juices), onion, garlic, rosemary, and 1 cup water.
• Cover and cook until the beans are tender, on low for 7 to 8 hours or on high for 5 to 6 hours (this will shorten total recipe time).
• Just before serving, stir in the spinach.
• Serve with the bread.