Saturday, September 3, 2011

Escarole with Italian Sausage and White Beans Bon Appétit | October 1998


 We substituted what I like to call Faux Sausage, spicy vegetarian sausage links Whole Foods carries.  Also used vegetable broth in lieu of chicken.  Did not miss the prosciutto at all. 

Yield: Serves 12 as a side-dish or 6 as main-course
ingredients
3 tablespoons olive oil
12 Italian sausages (about 3 pounds), casings removed
1 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup chopped prosciutto (about 2 ounces)
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1/2 teaspoon dried crushed red pepper
1 large head escarole, chopped (about 10 cups)
3/4 cup dry white wine
4 15-ounce cans Great Northern beans, rinsed, drained
1 cup chicken stock or canned low-salt chicken broth
Freshly grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
preparation
Heat oil in heavy large pot over medium-high heat. Working in batches, sauté sausage until cooked through, breaking up with back of spoon, about 6 minutes per batch. Using slotted spoon, transfer sausage to bowl, leaving drippings in pot. Reduce heat to medium; add onion to pot and sauté until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add prosciutto and sauté 1 minute. Mix in garlic and crushed red pepper. Add escarole and sauté until wilted, about 2 minutes. Add wine and cook 2 minutes. Add beans, stock and sausage and simmer 10 minutes to blend flavors. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Transfer to large bowl. Top with grated Parmesan, if desired.