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Sausage & White Bean Soup

By: USA WEEKEND columnist Pam Anderson  
"Instead of starting with a hambone (which you won't have unless you've just eaten a baked ham) and dried beans (which require significant soaking and simmering time), simply open cans of chicken broth and beans. Minced prosciutto instantly transforms commercial chicken broth into a ham-flavored soup base. Italian sausage reinforces the pork flavor and makes the soup substantial and satisfying. Mashing some of the canned beans thickens the soup and gives it the body of one that's been long simmered. Sauteed onions, carrots and celery add depth of flavor and ensure the soup's homemade feel."

Rating: This weblink has been rated 68 times with an average star rating of 4.7 Read Reviews (60)

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Original Recipe Yield 8 servings
 

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 1/2 pounds sweet or hot Italian sausage, in the casing
  • 2 ounces thinly sliced prosciutto ham, minced
  • 2 medium onions, in medium dice
  • 2 medium carrots, peeled and in medium dice
  • 2 medium celery stalks, in medium dice
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
  • 3 (15.8 ounce) cans great Northern or other white beans, undrained
  • 1 quart chicken broth (carton or can)

Directions

  1. Heat oil in a large, deep saute pan or soup kettle over medium-high heat. When pan is hot, add sausages; cook, turning once or twice, until well-browned on all sides, about 5 minutes. (Sausage will not be fully cooked at this point.) Remove from pan. When cool enough to handle, cut into slices 1/4-inch thick.
  2. Add prosciutto, onions, carrots, celery and thyme to the empty skillet; cook, stirring often, until well browned, 8 to 10 minutes. In a small bowl, mash one can of beans with a fork into a chunky puree. Add broth, whole and mashed beans, and sausage; cover and bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to medium-low; simmer, partially covered, to blend flavors, 20 minutes. Let rest 10 minutes; serve.

Footnotes

  • Picnic tip
  • Transfer to a 2-quart Thermos-type bottle after the first simmer. Can be cooked ahead and refrigerated up to 3 days.

  • This recipe was originally featured in the USA WEEKEND article Warm Picnic for a Cool Day on October 5, 2003.
  • Find the Perfect Recipe from Pam Anderson.
  • Pam Anderson is the author of four cookbooks, including her latest, Perfect Recipes for Having People Over.
  • Copyright 2004 USA WEEKEND and columnist Pam Anderson. All rights reserved.

Nutritional Information open nutritional information

Amount Per Serving  Calories: 576 | Total Fat: 34g | Cholesterol: 71mg

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The reviewer gave this recipe 0 stars. This recipe averages a 0 star rating.
Reviewed on Aug. 11, 2005 by Chef Holly 
A great soup base. I omitted the proscuitto--expensive and not needed for flavor with the... MORE
The reviewer gave this recipe 5 stars. This recipe averages a 0 star rating.
Reviewed on Nov. 29, 2005 by shiitakehappens 
WOW! Fantastic! This is the white bean soup recipe I've been looking for. I made a few... MORE
The reviewer gave this recipe 5 stars. This recipe averages a 0 star rating.
Reviewed on Jan. 21, 2005 by SWEAVER5RED 
I modified this by taking out the prociutto and using turkey sausage and green beans instead... MORE
The reviewer gave this recipe 5 stars. This recipe averages a 0 star rating.
Reviewed on Jan. 21, 2006 by TSUILI 
The flavor of the soup was great and easy to make. Next time I'll add a second can of mashed... MORE
The reviewer gave this recipe 5 stars. This recipe averages a 0 star rating.
Reviewed on Jan. 11, 2005 by MARTHAANNH 
I made this one snowy afternoon. Very easy to make and oh so good! My husband and I ate on... MORE
The reviewer gave this recipe 5 stars. This recipe averages a 0 star rating.
Reviewed on Apr. 21, 2006 by KELEKITCHEN 
Great Soup. Left out the ham and instead of meat sausage i took vegetarian sausage( available... MORE
The reviewer gave this recipe 5 stars. This recipe averages a 0 star rating.
Reviewed on Feb. 4, 2006 by JGABRIELSWIFE 
Loved this soup! I didn't add the prosciutto, and I may try it, but I'm not sure it needed... MORE
The reviewer gave this recipe 5 stars. This recipe averages a 0 star rating.
Reviewed on Nov. 28, 2005 by Lupin Pooter 
Had to substitute butterbeans for great Northern, but otherwise made it exactly as per recipe... MORE
The reviewer gave this recipe 0 stars. This recipe averages a 0 star rating.
Reviewed on Oct. 4, 2005 by JimRob 
We've made this soup several times since it first appeared last October. Tried it with... MORE
The reviewer gave this recipe 5 stars. This recipe averages a 0 star rating.
Reviewed on Jan. 4, 2005 by CAMPYKY 
We make this soup for family and friend functions, and we ALWAYS have requests for the recipe!!! MORE

 
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