Ben’s Favorite Soup Weather

Everyone will want an encore

Clouds have descended upon the land for the fourth day in a row.

It’s a mystery how the folks in the Pacific Northwest stay sane.

On days painted with gray skies and rain showers, I want nothing more than a blanket, a warm cup of tea and pajamas. Maybe a new Netflix movie. Oh, and to stay at home.

Above all else, I crave soup for every meal. Luckily we had the necessary ingredients for Ben’s favorite soup stockpiled in our pantry.

Yes, this is Ben’s favorite soup, of all time. It includes spinach, therefore I deem it fairly healthy except for the part about sausage. Serving it with a grilled cheese sandwich is a must for us.

For more soup and meal ideas check out my Recipe page.

Italian Sausage White Bean Soup
Note: This a very forgiving recipe. If you can’t find Italian sausage use regular sausage and add Italian seasonings. If you don’t like sausage use ground turkey. If you don’t have fresh spinach use frozen. Occasionally I throw in extra vegetables (carrots, celery, potatoes), just because I can.

Ingredients
1-2 T. olive oil
1 yellow onion, diced
1 garlic clove, minced
1 lb. Italian sausage, ground
2 – 16 oz. cans white beans (Great Northern or Cannellini)
3 c. chicken stock
1 c. water
1 bunch or around 4c. of fresh spinach
salt and pepper
Optional: a squeeze of fresh lemon juice, grated Parmesan cheese

Directions
Heat the olive oil over medium-high heat in a large stock pot. Once heated, stir in the onion for a few minutes, then add the garlic.

Move the mixture to the perimeter of the pot and brown the sausage in the middle. Break up the sausage and combine it with the onions and garlic.

While the sausage is cooking open the cans of beans. Take a fork and mush the beans against the side of the can (this thickens the soup and makes it slightly creamy), do this for one can.

When the sausage has been cooked thoroughly stir in both cans of beans. Pour in the chicken stock and water, scrape the bits off the bottom of the pot. Bring the soup to a boil and throw in spinach, it will wilt once combined. Season to taste with salt and pepper, squeeze in fresh lemon juice (if you want.)

For a print-friendly version, click the Print & PDF button below. For more recipes check out my Recipe page.