When you want something fast, easy and delicious, this Sausage with Tuscan Kale and White Bean recipe is the perfect dish that checks all those boxes.
Backstory
While I love cooking, some days I don’t have a lot of time to spend whipping up a fancy meal nor do I have the energy. Since I’ve been blogging and especially during quarantine, I’ve challenged myself to use what’s in my fridge and pantry in order to make something creative, fast, and easy.
A few weeks back, an idea crossed my mind when I was staring at the fridge contemplating what to cook for lunch. One of my favorite soups is Sausage with Kale and White Bean but sometimes I want to eat everything except the soup part.
I defrosted sausage from the freezer and grabbed kale from the fridge along with a can of white cannellini beans from the pantry. About 20 minutes later, I ate lunch.
There are only a few callouts since this a straightforward recipe without a lot of fuss.
Recipe notes
- I used a wok because it allowed me to mix everything together quickly but feel free to use any large skillet or pan.
- In keeping with the Italian-inspired theme, I used Italian chicken sausage but any fresh sausage you have on hand will work perfectly fine.
- I eat this over rice because it’s something we always have ready to eat but feel free to explore. It’s also delicious with toasted bread or pasta and for a little more salty goodness, top with grated parmesan cheese. 🙂 For this version, I did not add parmesan to keep costs down.
- This is meal-prep friendly and one that reheats well.
In conclusion
When you have limited time and want something easy to make, try this Sausage with Tuscan Kale and White Bean dish. There’s something about the bitterness of the kale that balances the savoriness of the sausage along with the creaminess of the beans. It’s delicious. I won’t be surprised if you add it to your cooking rotation! 🙂 Bon appétit!
For more pantry-inspired recipes, try our Tuna, Celery and White Bean Salad, Pasta Alla Puttanesca, and Chickpea and Cucumber Curry.
Sausage with Tuscan Kale and White Bean Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 lb fresh Italian sausage casings removed
- 1 bunch Tuscan kale stems removed, cut in ribbons or thin strips
- 1 can (15.5 oz) cannelini beans rinsed and drained
- 2-3 cloves garlic minced
- black pepper
- salt, optional
- olive oil, optional
Instructions
- Prepare all your ingredients.
- In a work or large pan over medium high heat, add sausage meat and brown until just cooked about 5-7 minutes. Then add garlic and stir for about 1 more minute.
- Add rinsed white beans and gently mix together until heated through about 2 minutes.
- Add kale and cover until just wilted about 1-2 minutes. Mix gently and remove from heat. Add salt and pepper to taste. Drizzle with olive oil (optional) and serve warm over cooked rice. Top with grated parmesan cheese (optional). Enjoy!
Recipe Notes
Ingredients | My cost | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 lb Italian sausage, casing removed | $11.99 | |
| 1 bunch Tusan kale, stems removed, cut in ribbons | $1.99 | |
| 1 can cannelini beans, drained | $0.99 | |
| 2-3 garlic cloves, minced | $0.09 | |
| Black pepper | $0.01 | |
| Salt, optional | $0.00 | |
Total: | $15.07 | |
| Cost per serving: | $3.77 |
* Note regarding pricing: The lemon and herbs are from our garden which is why there is no cost. The price for items such as salt and pepper take into account the cost of the amount used for the recipe and not the cost if you had to purchase the entire jar or container.
** All prices in US dollars and based on Bay Area prices from my local grocery and farmers market. Prices may vary in other parts of the United States.