Smokysausagewhitebeanstewwithcornmealdumplings Recipes

WHITE BEAN-SAUSAGE STEW

Steps:

• Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add the onion, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper and cook until the onion is just tender, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook 1 minute. Stir in the wine to deglaze the pot and scrape up any browned bits, then simmer until mostly evaporated, 1 to 2 minutes. Stir in the chicken broth, tomatoes, beans, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the tomatoes are soft and the mixture is thickened, 12 to 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, preheat the broiler. Toss the sausages with the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil on a baking sheet. Broil, turning halfway through, until well browned and cooked through, 6 to 8 minutes. Let rest about 5 minutes.
• Remove the bean mixture from the heat and stir in the arugula until just wilted; spoon into bowls. Slice the sausages in half and add to the bowls. Top with basil and cheese.

HERBED WHITE BEAN AND SAUSAGE STEW

Steps:

• Heat oil in a large stockpot over medium-high. Add the sausage and brown until cooked through, about 7 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer to a plate lined with a paper towel.
• Add the tomato paste and cumin to the pot. Cook, stirring, until dark golden, about 2 minutes. Add the carrots, celery, onion and garlic. Cook, stirring, until the vegetables have softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in the beans, 8 cups water, salt, thyme, rosemary and bay leaf. Turn the heat up to high and bring to a boil. Then reduce heat to low and simmer gently until the beans are tender, about 2 hours, adding more water if needed to make sure the beans remain submerged.
• When beans are tender, return the sausage to the pot. Simmer for 5 minutes. Stir in the vinegar and pepper. Taste and adjust seasoning. Ladle into warm bowls and serve drizzled with more vinegar and olive oil.

COLLARD GREENS AND CORNMEAL DUMPLINGS

Steps:

• Make the stock: In a large heavy stockpot, bring 3 quarts water, the smoked meat, onions, celery, carrots, garlic, peppercorns and bay leaves to a boil. Reduce the heat to maintain a simmer, and simmer, partially covered, until the flavors are well blended, about 2 hours.
• Remove the meat from the broth. When cool enough to handle, pull the meat off the bones (discard the skin, fat, and bones). Chop the meat and reserve for another use. (The meat can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 1 week.) Use a fine-mesh sieve to strain the stock into a container. Refrigerate the stock until the fat floats to the top or skim the fat using a fat separator or spoon to use immediately. For chilled stock, use a slotted spoon to skim off the fat and discard. Pour out 6 cups stock to use; reserve the rest for another use in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 1 month.
• Make the collards: In a medium saucepan, bring the 6 cups stock, the onion and garlic to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to maintain a simmer, cover and simmer while preparing the greens.
• Thoroughly wash the collards and trim away the stems, if desired. Discard the stems or coarsely chop. Stack 2 or 3 leaves on a cutting board and roll tightly into a log. Slice the greens crosswise into 1/4-inch-wide ribbons. Place the greens and stems, if using, and the chiles in the broth and return to a simmer. Cook, covered, about 1 1/2 hours for very tender greens; you may cook them for less time if you have young greens or prefer greens with more chew. Season to taste with salt and black pepper.
• About half an hour before the collards are done, prepare the dumplings: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cornmeal, baking powder, sugar and salt. In a small saucepan, melt the butter over medium-low heat. Spoon out 1/2 cup of the potlikker from the collards and add to the butter. Remove from the heat and stir it into the dry ingredients, adding more potlikker 1 tablespoon at a time if needed for the dough to come together into a mass. Let stand 5 minutes. When cool enough to handle, use wet fingertips to shape the dough into 6 round dumplings.
• During the last 15 minutes of the collards' cooking time, carefully drop the cornmeal dumplings into the pot with the greens, making sure the dumplings are submerged in the potlikker. Cover the pot and simmer until the dumplings are cooked through, 10 to 15 minutes. Serve the greens and dumplings in bowls with plenty of potlikker.

SMOKED SAUSAGE WITH WHITE BEANS

Steps:

• Heat oil in a large pot. Add sausage and cook 3 - 4 minutes. Add onion, green pepper and garlic. Cook 5 more minutes.
• Stir in beans, cumin, and peppers. Add water just to cover. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium low, cover and simmer for at least 2 to 3 hours, until beans are tender and creamy.
• Just before serving, stir in green onions and salt.