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One-Pan Spicy Sausage with Cannellini Beans and Kale for Two

By Steve Dunn

Published on December 2, 2024

Time

50 minutes

Yield

Serves 2

One-Pan Spicy Sausage with Cannellini Beans and Kale for Two

Ingredients

8 ounces hot italian sausage 1 cup water, divided, plus extra as needed1 small onion, halved and sliced thin1 garlic clove, sliced thin1⁄3 cup red wine 1 tablespoon tomato paste 3⁄4 teaspoon smoked paprika 1⁄4 teaspoon table salt 8 ounces lacinato kale, stemmed and torn into 2-inch pieces1 (15-ounce) can cannellini beans, undrained2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 1 teaspoon sherry vinegar

Before You Begin

We developed this recipe with hot Italian sausage, but any spicy pork sausage, such as chorizo, can be used. If lacinato is unavailable, use curly kale. A bold red wine such as a Syrah, Cabernet, or Zinfandel works well here. Serve with crusty bread.

Instructions

  1. Bring sausages and ¼ cup water to simmer in Dutch oven over medium heat. Cover and cook until sausages register about 135 degrees, 8 to 10 minutes. (If pot contents begin to sizzle, add ¼ cup water.)
  2. Uncover and, using paring knife, pierce each sausage in 8 to 10 spots to release fat and juices. Continue to cook, uncovered, moving sausages as necessary, until dark fond forms on bottom of pot, 2 to 4 minutes longer. Transfer sausages to cutting board.
  3. Add onion and garlic to now-empty pot and cook, stirring constantly, for 1 minute. Stir in wine, scraping up any browned bits. Stir in tomato paste, paprika, and salt. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until wine is reduced to thick, syrupy glaze, 3 to 4 minutes.
  4. Stir in kale and remaining ¾ cup water, cover, and cook until kale is wilted, about 5 minutes. Stir in beans and their liquid, cover, and cook 5 minutes longer. Return sausages to pot, nestling links into kale and beans. Cover and continue to cook until sausages register 160 degrees, 7 to 12 minutes longer, flipping sausages and stirring halfway through cooking. Transfer sausages to cutting board and slice each link into thirds.
  5. Off heat, stir oil and vinegar into kale mixture; season with salt to taste. Divide kale, beans, and sauce among shallow bowls. Top with sausage and serve.
One-Pan Spicy Sausage with Cannellini Beans and Kale for Two
Styling by Catrine Kelty.

One-Pan Spicy Sausage with Cannellini Beans and Kale for Two

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Time

50 minutes

Yield

Serves 2

Ingredients

8 ounces hot italian sausage
1 cup water, divided, plus extra as needed
1 small onion, halved and sliced thin
1 garlic clove, sliced thin
1⁄3 cup red wine
1 tablespoon tomato paste
3⁄4 teaspoon smoked paprika
1⁄4 teaspoon table salt
8 ounces lacinato kale, stemmed and torn into 2-inch pieces
1 (15-ounce) can cannellini beans, undrained
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon sherry vinegar

Ingredients

8 ounces hot italian sausage
1 cup water, divided, plus extra as needed
1 small onion, halved and sliced thin
1 garlic clove, sliced thin
1⁄3 cup red wine
1 tablespoon tomato paste
3⁄4 teaspoon smoked paprika
1⁄4 teaspoon table salt
8 ounces lacinato kale, stemmed and torn into 2-inch pieces
1 (15-ounce) can cannellini beans, undrained
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon sherry vinegar

Ingredients

8 ounces hot italian sausage
1 cup water, divided, plus extra as needed
1 small onion, halved and sliced thin
1 garlic clove, sliced thin
1⁄3 cup red wine
1 tablespoon tomato paste
3⁄4 teaspoon smoked paprika
1⁄4 teaspoon table salt
8 ounces lacinato kale, stemmed and torn into 2-inch pieces
1 (15-ounce) can cannellini beans, undrained
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon sherry vinegar

Why This Recipe Works

Sausages are a great focal point for speedy one-pan meals. Starting the sausages in a covered skillet with some water kept their casings from turning tough and leathery. We then pricked the links with the tip of a paring knife so that they would give up a bit of their fat and juices. When the juices evaporated, they formed a robust fond that could be deglazed from the pan with wine and used to create a braising liquid that deeply infused the beans and kale with savory, meaty flavor. Quick-to-prep and quick-to-cook ingredients rounded out the meals.

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Before You Begin

We developed this recipe with hot Italian sausage, but any spicy pork sausage, such as chorizo, can be used. If lacinato is unavailable, use curly kale. A bold red wine such as a Syrah, Cabernet, or Zinfandel works well here. Serve with crusty bread.

Instructions

  1. Bring sausages and ¼ cup water to simmer in Dutch oven over medium heat. Cover and cook until sausages register about 135 degrees, 8 to 10 minutes. (If pot contents begin to sizzle, add ¼ cup water.)
  2. Uncover and, using paring knife, pierce each sausage in 8 to 10 spots to release fat and juices. Continue to cook, uncovered, moving sausages as necessary, until dark fond forms on bottom of pot, 2 to 4 minutes longer. Transfer sausages to cutting board.
  3. Add onion and garlic to now-empty pot and cook, stirring constantly, for 1 minute. Stir in wine, scraping up any browned bits. Stir in tomato paste, paprika, and salt. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until wine is reduced to thick, syrupy glaze, 3 to 4 minutes.
  4. Stir in kale and remaining ¾ cup water, cover, and cook until kale is wilted, about 5 minutes. Stir in beans and their liquid, cover, and cook 5 minutes longer. Return sausages to pot, nestling links into kale and beans. Cover and continue to cook until sausages register 160 degrees, 7 to 12 minutes longer, flipping sausages and stirring halfway through cooking. Transfer sausages to cutting board and slice each link into thirds.
  5. Off heat, stir oil and vinegar into kale mixture; season with salt to taste. Divide kale, beans, and sauce among shallow bowls. Top with sausage and serve.

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