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 Fusilli with White Beans, Sausage and Herbs

 

Serve with a bottle of good red wine...
 

7 cups 

 

water

 

2 cups 

 

dried Great Northern beans

 

1 tsp 

 

dried rubbed sage

 

1 fresh 

 

sprig of rosemary (or 1 t. dried)

 

3 cloves 

 

garlic, sliced

 

1 bunch 

 

Swiss Chard, stemmed and coarsely chopped

 

8 oz 

 

fusilli pasta

 

1 lb 

 

sweet Italian sausage links, cut into 1˝" pieces

 

2 cloves 

 

garlic, minced

 

1˝ cups 

 

tomato- basil pasta sauce (from a jar is fine)

 

˝ cup 

 

freshly grated Parmesan cheese

 

2 Tbs 

 

olive oil

 

 

1

Combine first 5 ingredients in a large, heavy saucepan. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer until beans are tender, stirring occasionally (about 2 hours). Drain beans, reserving cooking liquid.

2

In a large saucepan of boiling, salted water, add chard and cook until wilted (about 30 seconds). Remove chard with a slotted spoon and transfer to a bowl. Add pasta to the boiling water and cook until just tender but still firm to bite, stirring occasionally. Drain and rinse under cold water.

3

Cook sausages in large, heavy skillet over medium-high heat until cooked through, turning occasionally (about 6 min.). Add garlic; sauté 1 minute. Add chard; sauté 30 seconds. Add beans and sauce and bring to a simmer. Add pasta, cheese and oil; toss.

4

If the sauce seems too thick, thin with reserved bean cooking liquid. Season with salt and pepper and serve.

 

Servings: 6

 

 Cooking Tips

*To save time on cooking day, the beans may be prepared 1 day ahead. Refrigerate beans and liquid separately.

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