Description
Creamy bean soup with sausage delivers hearty comfort from Italian culinary traditions. Savory sausage and smooth white beans blend into a rich, warming meal perfect for chilly evenings you’ll want to savor repeatedly.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 1 pound (454 grams) Italian sausage, mild or spicy, no casings
Vegetables and Aromatics:
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- ½ cup (118 milliliters) puréed tomatoes
- 3 ounces (85 grams) tomato paste
- 3 cans (13 ounces or 369 grams each) cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
Liquids and Dairy:
- 3 cups (710 milliliters) chicken broth
- 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) olive oil
- ¾ cup (177 milliliters) heavy cream
- 1.5 ounces (43 grams) grated Parmesan cheese
- 8 tablespoons (120 milliliters) red pesto, for serving
- 2 tablespoons (8 grams) chopped parsley
Spices:
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon fennel seeds
- ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (plus more for serving)
Instructions
- In a large pot, heat olive oil over medium-high heat and crumble Italian sausage into small, uniform pieces, cooking until golden brown and slightly crispy around the edges.
- Reduce heat to medium and add finely minced garlic and diced onions, sautéing until the onions become translucent and fragrant, approximately 3-4 minutes.
- Sprinkle dried thyme, oregano, red pepper flakes, and ground black pepper into the pot, stirring to distribute the herbs and spices evenly throughout the meat and vegetable mixture.
- Pour in low-sodium chicken broth, diced tomatoes with their juices, and two varieties of rinsed and drained beans, allowing the liquid to reach a gentle simmer.
- Cover the pot and let the soup simmer for 15-20 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld and the beans to become tender while occasionally stirring to prevent sticking.
- Reduce heat to low and slowly stir in heavy cream, creating a rich and velvety texture throughout the soup.
- Gently fold in freshly grated Parmesan cheese, tasting and adjusting seasoning with salt and additional black pepper as needed.
- Ladle the hot soup into deep bowls, drizzling a small amount of basil pesto on top and sprinkling additional crushed red pepper for extra heat and visual appeal.
- Serve immediately alongside warm, crusty artisan bread for dipping, creating a complete and satisfying meal.
Notes
- Customizing this soup allows endless flavor variations with different sausage types or bean combinations.
- Leftovers store beautifully in sealed containers for 3-4 days, tasting even more delicious as flavors meld.
- Freezing works perfectly when cooled completely, maintaining creamy texture upon reheating.
- Budget-friendly ingredients make this recipe an economical meal solution for families.
- Fresh herbs like basil or parsley can elevate the final presentation and add bright flavor notes.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 670 kcal
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 1600mg
- Fat: 45g
- Saturated Fat: 18g
- Unsaturated Fat: 22g
- Trans Fat: 0.5g
- Carbohydrates: 50g
- Fiber: 12g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 120mg