Quick Summary: A creamy rustic Italian stew with cannellini beans, andouille sausage, and Tuscan kale in a velvety broth. High protein, nutrient-dense, and compliant with slow-carb diets. Comes together in under an hour. Prep: 20 min | Cook: 30 min | Serves: 8
Jump to: RECIPE | Key Ingredients | Step by Step | More Bean Recipes | FAQ
This is the kind of stew I want on cold Minnesota evenings: creamy, substantial, and deeply satisfying. Cannellini beans provide the protein, kale adds micro-nutrients and texture, and the smoky sausage ties everything together.
The secret is the soffritto base (sautéed onion, carrot, and celery) combined with smoked paprika. That foundation of caramelized aromatics gives the broth its depth. A splash of cream at the end adds velvety richness, and a squeeze of lemon brightens the whole bowl.
This stew is compliant with slow-carb diets. While beans aren’t part of a keto or low-carb diet, they’re a cornerstone of the 4-Hour Body approach and an excellent protein source.
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Key Ingredients and Substitutions
The key ingredients to this dish are the white beans, the kale, and the Sofritto (sautéed onion-carrot-celery mixture).
Typical substitutions and additions include the following:
Substitutions:
- Sausage: I used andouille for its smoky heat, but any sausage works. Italian sausage (sweet or hot), kielbasa, chorizo, or even bacon or pancetta all work well.
- Beans: Cannellini are classic for this Tuscan-style stew. Great Northern or navy beans substitute nicely. Use canned for convenience or cook dried beans ahead.
- Kale: Tuscan kale (lacinato/dinosaur kale) is my preference for its tender texture. Curly kale works but is slightly chewier. I have also made a similar Tuscan stew with cabbage that was really good.
Additions:
- Parmesan Cheese (grated and 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.
The soffritto: Don’t skip the onion, carrot, and celery base. Caramelizing these aromatics for 5-8 minutes creates the flavor foundation for the entire stew.
How to Make Italian White Bean-Kale Stew (Step by Step)
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
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
Step #4: Finely chop the kale
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.
More 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 is more info and recipes on beans for a slow carb diet:
Frequently Asked Questions:
Tuscan kale (lacinato/dinosaur kale) is my preference for its tender texture. Curly kale works but is slightly chewier.
Yes, but freeze before adding the cream. Cream separates when frozen. Add cream after reheating.
It’s naturally thick from the beans, vegetables, and cream. No thickener needed. Add more chicken broth if you prefer a thinner, soupier consistency.
Yes. Soak overnight and cook until tender before adding to the stew. One cup dried beans equals about one 15-ounce can.
Only 5-10 minutes, just until wilted. Overcooking breaks down the kale and loses its pleasant texture.
It’s slow-carb compliant (beans are allowed on the 4-Hour Body diet) but not keto or strict low-carb due to the beans.
Interested in the Slow Carb Diet? Check out this comprehensive E-Guide on Fat Loss through a Slow Carb Diet.
Italian White Bean & Kale Stew
Equipment
- measuring spoons and cups
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
Delicious! Easy to follow recipe.
Thanks for commenting! Enjoy during this cool weather.
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.
Wow, you know your way around substitutions to get texture and flavor! Your husband is a lucky duck to have you. Glad I could assist with any inspiration. Best….