Cannellini Bean & Sausage Soup (vegan)

“what do you want for dinner?”

This question gets asked in our house everyday. No one ever agrees.

The typical transition angst that builds at the end of a busy workday upon returning home consistently gets in the way of leisurely preparing a “nutritious-yet-savory meal” (cue the Annette Bening dinner scene rant with her daughter and Kevin Spacey from “American Beauty”).

What will you have for dinner tonight?

This vegan cannellini bean stew is ready in 30 minutes and is a super flavorful whole food weeknight meal! Mustard greens provide a rich source of vitamin A, C and E, along with antioxidants. Herbs de Provence, lemon and vegetable broth concentrate keep this stew flavorful but simple.

Buon Appetito!

Ingredients: (serves 2-3)

1 onion, chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 carrot, cut into rounds
1 celery stalk, sliced into half-moons
Handful of chopped or torn mustard greens, kale or chard
1 lemon, halved
15 oz can of cannellini beans
2 vegan Italian sausages (Beyond Meat or Farmhouse are good ones)
1 tsp herbs de Provence
Parmesan cheese (Follow Your Heart brand for good vegan)
4 tsp vegetable broth concentrate (Trader Joes has a good one, or you can make your own ahead of time with this recipe from #ATK on the Splendid Table podcast). Its a great pre-made base to have in the fridge all week— and you can freeze it for later use.

Make:

Drain and rinse cannellini beans.

Slice Italian sausage into rounds, brown the rounds in large pot over medium high heat with a tablespoon of olive oil.

Transfer crispy sausage to plate and cover.

Return pot to med-high heat, add another tbsp olive oil, onions, garlic, carrots, celery and cook until softened, 3-5 mins.

Add the beans, herbs de Provence, veg broth concentrate, and 2 1/2 cups water. Stir and bring to a boil.

Reduce heat and simmer 5-6 minutes. Add the chopped greens until they turn bright green, 3-5 mins.

Remove from heat, squeeze half the lemon into the pot and drop the squeezed half in. Season with pink salt and pepper, ladle into bows and top with the crispy sausage and parmesan. Serve with lemon wedges.

YUM!

*add crusty garlic bread for a really tasty and filling meal.