White cannellini beans with Italian sausage in a plum tomato sauce.
Who says you need spaghetti for spaghetti sauce?
A quick andeasy Italian sausage spaghetti sauceworks beautifully with white beans as well as pasta.
Elise Bauer
If the bean water tastes good, use it.
If not, don’t.
Place the beans in a large pot and cover with at least a couple of inches with cold water.
Elise Bauer
Soak for at least 4 hours.
Return the beans to the pot and add 3 quarts of water to the pot.
Cover, bring to a simmer on medium heat, and simmer beans for one hour.
Elise Bauer
Lower the heat so that the beans are barely simmering.
Cook for an additional 1-2 hours, or until beans are just tender.
Remove from heat and let cool in cooking liquid.
Elise Bauer
Set aside 1/2 cup of the cooking liquid, drain the rest from the beans.
Taste the liquid in the cans of beans.
Heat one tablespoon of olive oil in a large, heavy-bottomed skillet over medium heat.
Elise Bauer
Stirring occasionally until slightly thickened, about 5 minutes.
Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Simmer a few minutes longer, stirring gently, until sausage is cooked through and the sauce has thickened.
Be careful not to break up the beans.
