Served alongside a leafy green salad and a hunk of crusty bread, Escarole and White Bean Soup with Italian Sausage is hearty enough for dinner yet easy enough for lunch!
The damp snaps of cold these days seem to be accumulating faster than the crunchy fallen leaves on our front yard. Have you been feeling the need for soup in all its cozy glory, too? Is there anything better than a big bowl of hot soup on a chilly day? I guess only if it’s coupled with a leafy green salad and loaf of crusty bread. Am I right?
This dish, like my greens & beans, has a feel of yesteryear. It’s the kind of dish that my great-great-great grandmothers would have served with pride…the ultimate paisano (peasant) food!
INGREDIENTS FOR ESCAROLE & WHITE BEAN SOUP WITH ITALIAN SAUSAGE:
- olive oil
- medium onion, chopped
- celery, finely chopped
- garlic cloves, minced
- red pepper flakes (optional)
- Italian sweet sausage, casing removed
- escarole, roughly chopped
- low sodium beef, vegetable or chicken stock (I used beef)
- salt & pepper
- Great Northern beans, drained and rinsed (or you could substitute with Navy or Cannellini beans)
- 1 lemon
- Freshly grated Parm, for serving
INSTRUCTIONS:
In a large pot over medium heat, heat olive oil.
Add onion and celery. Cook until slightly soft, about 8 minutes.
Next, add garlic and red pepper flakes. Cook until fragrant. About 1 minute.
Add sausage. Using a wooden spoon, break up the sausage and cook until browned.
Add escarole and cook until wilted, 1 – 2 minutes.
Season with salt and pepper.
Add stock and beans to the pot. Increase heat to medium-high. Bring to a boil. Stirring occasionally, mash some of the beans to thicken the soup.
Reduce heat. Simmer for 15 minutes. Add fresh lemon juice and grated Parm…
Garnish with shaved Parmesan.
Fortifying and warm, simple and delicious. This soup will keep you warm all winter long!
Buon Appetito!
SOUP’S ON:
Escarole and White Bean Soup with Italian Sausage
Ingredients
4 Tbsp. olive oil, divided
1 medium onion, chopped
2 stalks celery, finely chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes (optional)
1 lb. Italian sweet sausage, casing removed
1 head escarole, about 16 oz., roughly chopped
6 cups low sodium beef, vegetable or chicken stock (I used beef)
salt & pepper
2 (15 oz.) cans Great Northern beans, drained and rinsed
Juice of 1 lemon
1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan
Parmesan for serving
Instructions
In a large pot over medium heat, heat 3 Tbsp. olive oil.
Add onion and celery. Cook until slightly soft, about 8 minutes.
Next, add garlic and red pepper flakes. Cook until fragrant. About 1 minute.
Add remaining olive oil and sausage. Using a wooden spoon, break up the sausage and cook until browned.
Add escarole and cook until wilted, 1 – 2 minutes.
Season with salt and pepper.
Add stock and beans to the pot. Increase heat to medium-high. Bring to a boil. Stirring occasionally, mash some of the beans to thicken the soup.
Reduce heat. Simmer for 15 minutes. Add fresh lemon juice.
Garnish with Parmesan.
Notes
You can substitute Cannellini or Navy beans for the Great Northern beans.
This soup was delicious! The only addition I made was to add in a parmesan cheese rind, as it was simmering. Had the left overs two days later, and the flavor was even better. Thank you for a great recipe.
Hi Sandy, Thank you so much! Great idea to add the rind! Can never have enough parm!! 😉
Can you add escarole and cook on stove for a while or should that be added closer to the end? My husband like to let soup simmer for a while, but doesn’t want to ruin the soup.
Yes you can. It won’t ruin the soup. 🙂
This soup is absolutely delicious! I followed the recipe to a “t” and would not change a thing! Just curious can you freeze it?
Thank you! Yes you can!
This was the recipe I was searching for!! Please make this as it is written! 5 stars all around!!! 👏
Music to my ears!! Thank you, Holly!
This is a very good soup just as written. So glad you posted it !! Serve with a salad and maybe some crusty bread for a hearty dinner.
Such a cozy and hearty soup, Annie! Wonderful flavors!
Bring on the cozy! Thanks, Kelly!
This is just a festival of flavors! When I put sausage in a soup I get zero complaints, haha! I will be trying this one asap!
‘Festival of flavors’…oh yeah!! Enjoy, my friend!
This is exactly the kind of hearty, delicious soup that we love to eat all through the cold months. So excited to give this beauty a try, Annie! Thank you.
I can’t keep enough in the fridge! Thanks, Marissa!
This looks super delicious Annie. I love the entire ingredient list. Can’t wait to make a pot!
It’s definitely a family favorite! Enjoy!!
Just lovely! We had our first snowfall last night (it won’t stay, but still!). So soup is on my mind, for sure. Loving everything about this one 🙂
Thanks, Jennifer! Yep – we had our first snow last night, too… Ready or not – here it comes! Soup helps!! 🙂
This is something I could eat NOW. It’s been a rough week, and this soup is perfection.
Yep – this will cure most ills! I hope this week is better for you, my dear!