Sausage and Beans in Tomato Sauce

  • 1 1/2 cups dried white kidney beans or other white beans

Plain Tomato Sauce

(Salsa di Pomodoro Semplice)

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 (28 ounce) can crushed Italian-style tomatoes
  • Salt and freshly ground pepper
  • 1 1/2 pounds sweet Italian sausages
  • 1 to 2 cups water
  • Salt and freshly ground pepper
  • 2 tablespoons chopped parsley
  • 2 garlic cloves, chopped

Place beans in a large bowl. Add enough cold water to cover. Soak overnight.

To prepare Plain Tomato Sauce, heat oil in medium saucepan over medium heat. Press tomatoes through food mill or sieve and discard seeds. Add pulp to saucepan. Simmer uncovered 15 to 20 minutes. Season to taste.

Rinse beans under cold running water. Turn into a large saucepan. Add enough water to cover. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat. Cover and simmer beans until tender but firm, 40 to 50 minutes.

Meanwhile, wash sausages. Puncture in several places with a fork. Put 1 to 2 cups water and sausages in a large skillet. Bring water to a boil. Cook 10 to 15 minutes over medium heat, turning once or twice, until water has all evaporated. Add Plain Tomato Sauce to skillet. Season with salt and pepper. Stir in cooked beans. Simmer uncovered, 5 minutes. Stir in parsley and garlic. Cook 5 minutes longer. Serve immediately.

Serves 4 to 6

Adapted from Biba’s Northern Italian Cooking. 2002. Biba Caggiano, HP Book