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Italian White Bean, Kale & Sausage Stew: Slow Carb

Italian White Bean, Kale & Sausage Stew: Slow Carb
Home » Italian Recipes » Italian White Bean, Kale & Sausage Stew: Slow Carb

This creamy rustic soup or stew is perfect for slow carb diets or for cold-weather cooking. Cannellini beans and sausage make it high protein, the kale adds tons of nutrients and flavor and the creamy broth give it a velvety texture. Serve it with or without rustic bread.

Bowl of Italian white bean, sausage and kale stew.
Bowl of Italian white bean, sausage and kale stew.

Jump to: RECIPE Key Ingredients & Substitutions | Step by Step Illustrations | Slow Carb Bean Recipes | Common Questions

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Key Ingredients and Substitutions

The key ingredients to this dish are really the white beans an the kale, and the Sofritto (sautéed onion-carrot-celery mixture). Typical substitutions and additions for the other ingredients include the following:

Substitutions:

  • Sausage: I used andouille sausage, but any kind of sausage (ground or links) can be substituted with good results. Alternatively you can use bacon or pancetta.
  • Beans: You can use any kind of beans, but the classic stew uses white beans. Cannellini is my favorite, but Great Northern, or navy beans are great also.
  • Kale: I like Tuscan kale but you can also use curly kale also. I have also made a similar Tuscan stew with cabbage that was really good.
Ingredients for Italian white bean and kale stew laid out on a cutting board.
Ingredients for Italian white bean, kale, & sausage stew

Kale has really become a darling dish in the food world, primarily due to its nutrient value, but also because it tastes good! If you want a great kale recipe without the beans and sausage try this steamed kale side dish. It goes with any main dish.

Additions:

  • Parmesan Cheese (sprinkled on top as a finish)
  • Tomatoes: many recipes for this stew use 1-2 cans of diced tomatoes. If you want to increase the tomato flavor, add some sun-dried tomatoes also. I like to keep it lighter and creamier, but tomatoes are a popular addition.
  • Seasoning: I used smoked paprika as I love the smoky but subtle heat it offers the dish. Italian seasoning is a popular addition, as is dried basil or oregano.

Step by Step Illustrations

This stew/soup comes together very quickly with minimal preparation. Here is what each major step looks like, but check out the recipe below for the details.

Step #1: Slice sausage and brown in oil in a dutch oven; remove and set aside after browned

Plate of sliced andouille sausage.
Slices of andouille sausage

Step #2: chop onions, carrots, celery, & garlic and cook with smoked paprika in the pot 5-8 min.

Chopped onions, carrots, celery and garlic on a cutting board.
Step #2: chop onions, carrots, celery, & garlic and cook with smoked paprika in the pot 5-8 min.

Step #3: Add sausage back to pot, and deglaze by adding chicken stock

Large pot of cooked carrots, onions, celery and andouille sausage.
Step #3: Add sausage back to pot, and deglaze by adding chicken stock

Step #4: Finely chop the kale

Finely chopped kale on white cutting board.
Step #4: Finely chop the kale

Step #5: Add kale and beans to pot and cook 5-10 minutes

Stew of white beans, carrots, onions andouille sausage and chicken stock.
Step #5: Add kale and beans to pot and cook 5-10 minutes

Step #6: Add cream to the stew, adjust for salt, and add a squeeze of lemon.

Italian bean, kale sausage stew with heavy cream added in.
Step #6: Add cream to the stew, adjust for salt, and add a squeeze of lemon.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can you freeze Italian white bean stew?

If you make the stew without the added cream at the end, it will freeze just fine. Cream tends to separate when frozen, so you would need to freeze before adding the cream and then add the cream after you have defrosted and reheated the stew.

Is this a thick stew or a thin soup?

There is no thickener in the stew and there are no potatoes to help thicken it. That said I find it quite thick on it’s own from the beans, the other vegetables and the cream. You can add more chicken broth if you prefer it thinner like a clear soup.

Slow Carb Bean Recipes

While beans are not considered part of a low carb or keto diet, they are compliant with a slow carb diet (4-hour body diet) and they are a great source of protein. Here are some more recipes designed for a slow carb diet:

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Italian White Bean & Kale Stew

Bowl of Italian white bean, sausage and kale stew.
A slow carb, creamy Italian stew made with white beans, kale, andouille sausage, & smoked paprika. Cream is added to the broth at the end.
5 from 4 votes
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Servings 8
Calories 340

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 3 Tablespoons olive oil divided
  • 12 Ounces andouille sausage or other sausage, sliced into 1/2” coins or slices
  • 3 Cloves garlic
  • 1 onion chopped
  • 2 carrots chopped into bite-size pieces
  • 3 Stalks celery
  • 2 Teaspoons smoked paprika
  • 5 Cups chicken broth
  • 8 Ounces kale finely chopped
  • 3 Cans cannellini beans 15 ounce cans
  • ½ Cup heavy cream
  • 1 Teaspoon Salt
  • 1-2 lemon wedges optional

Instructions
 

  • Heat 1-2 tablespoons oil in dutch oven and add sausage slices. Cook until browned, add garlic for 30 seconds but do not burn. Remove sausage to a plate and set aside.
    3 Tablespoons olive oil, 12 Ounces andouille sausage, 3 Cloves garlic
  • Add another 1-2 tablespoons oil to dutch oven and heat up. Add onions, carrots and celery to the pot and cook 5-8 minutes or until caramelized. Stir in smoked paprika and cook another 2 minutes.
    1 onion, 2 carrots, 3 Stalks celery, 2 Teaspoons smoked paprika
  • Add chicken broth (to deglaze) and bring to a low boil. Add kale and beans and salt and cook over medium-low heat for 5-10 minutes or until heated through.
    5 Cups chicken broth, 8 Ounces kale, 3 Cans cannellini beans
  • Add cream, taste and add more salt if needed. Squeeze a little lemon juice over the stew, stir and serve.
    1/2 Cup heavy cream, 1 Teaspoon Salt, 1-2 lemon wedges

Notes

**Notes: Add the kale just for the last 5-10 minutes of cooking, just until it wilts. If you cook it too long it will break down and you will lose some of the crisp texture.

Nutrition

Calories: 340kcalCarbohydrates: 32gProtein: 20gFat: 18gSaturated Fat: 7gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 53mgSodium: 1614mgPotassium: 428mgFiber: 10gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 5930IUVitamin C: 30mgCalcium: 208mgIron: 5mg
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Recipe Rating




  1. Gloria says:

    Delicious! Easy to follow recipe.5 stars

  2. Daniela Morgan says:

    My husband is on dialysis so I had to modify the sodium by skipping salt and using fresh,unseasoned pork sausage and 1 1/2 T of dry Italian herbs. I also skipped cream, instead mashing half a can of the beans and adding them in. This produced a velvety texture. I finished with juice of a whole lemon, chopped fresh basil, parmesan and lots of fresh cracked pepper. Thanks for the inspiriation. Being on a renal diet is new for us.5 stars

  3. Dorothy Stainbrook says:

    5 stars