Sausage, White Bean, and Leek Soup

It’s a new year folks. Good riddance 2014! You won’t be missed. Though the year certainly had its share of good highlights—my first trip to Europe, a site redesign, and some great new partnerships for the blog—the year also brought its more than fair share of disappointments. I won’t go into depth with them here, but let’s just say I’m greatly looking forward to all of the positive things that I’m optimistic will come in the next cycle around the sun.

What are you most looking forward to in the new year?

Friday is #NationalCassouletDay dedicated to celebrating the traditional casserole of meat and white beans, but restaurants in NYC are celebrating all week long. Taking some inspiration from the French dish I threw together the sausage, white bean, and leek soup recipe posted here. It’s composed of a relatively small number of ingredients, yet yields a delicious result that is perfect to warm your stomach during these winter months.

Ingredients:

• olive oil
• 3/4 lb. mild Italian sausage
• 3 large leeks, sliced (white and light green parts only)
• salt
• black pepper
• 1 cup white wine
• 2 Tbsps. dry parsley
• 4 – 15.5 oz cans great Northern beans (or any white bean), drained and rinsed
• 1 quart unsalted/low-sodium chicken stock

Procedure:

1. In a large pot, heat a couple swirls of olive oil over medium heat. Crumble in the sausage meat and begin to cook.
2. Prepare the leeks while the sausage is cooking by chopping off the dark green tops, cutting in half lengthwise, rinsing under cold water to remove any dirt, and slicing. Add to the pot, season with salt and pepper, and sweat for a few minutes.
3. After the leeks have cooked down some, add the wine and the parsley and continue to cook for a few more minutes.
4. Add the beans and chicken stock. Bring to a simmer and cook for 15-20 minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning.

Fun fact: I took a whole series of photos of this dish in a different bowl, but then I decided I didn’t like them and started all over again. Is that crazy or just a sign of dedication?