This recipe is adapted from one found in the Willams-Sonoma catalog. The quality of the soup depends a great deal on the quality of the faux sausage used. Of course, carnivores are welcome to use andouille sausage if they prefer. This soup is a great winter warmer, and can be served with the remaining wine from the recipe or a crisp hoppy IPA. Fresh garlic bread makes a nice accompanying side. Serves 6-8.
Ingredients
1 cup dry white wine
2 Tbs. olive oil
1 lb veggie sausage (Tofurky brand Kielbasa sausage)
1 small yellow onion, diced
2 celery stalks, diced (optional)
1 carrot, peeled and diced
1 leek, diced (white portion only)
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 tsp. minced fresh thyme (dried can be substituted, but only if add at the end)
6 cups vegetable broth (warmed)
1 cup water (warmed)
2 cups white beans (drained)
4 ounces Swiss chard, leaves cup into 1/2″ strips
Salt and fresh-ground pepper (to taste)
Grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese.
Preparation
Boil in a small saucepan, over medium heat, the white wine until reduced to 1/2 cup (7-10 minutes).
Using a soup pot, over medium heat, warm the olive oil, and brown the sausage for about 3 minutes on each side (more if using real meat). Let the sausage cool; cut diagonally into 1/2″ slices and set aside.
In the same pot, over medium-low heat,cook the onion, celery, carrot and leek until soft (about 10 minutes). Add garlic and thyme (only if using the fresh stuff!) and cook for 2 minutes. Add the reduced wine, vegetable broth and water and simmer on medium-high heat for about 15-20 minutes. Add the sausage, beans and Swiss chard and cook until the chard wilts (5-8 minutes). Season with salt and fresh-ground black pepper.
Ladle soup into bowls and garnish with grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese.
