Sausage and White Bean Gratin

Recipe by Shaina White

Heat: 425°F
Time: 5–10 min
Makes: 6

Serves 6

Ingredients

⅔ cup panko or regular dried
1 scant tablespoon fresh thyme leaves breadcrumbs or 1 scant teaspoon dried
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
½ cup dry white wine OR 1 T apple
Salt cider vinegar
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 ½ cups low-sodium chicken broth
1 pound sweet Italian sausages, casings
2-3 cans (15.5 ounce each) white

Method

01
removed (or Sage Jimmy Dean, or beans, such as cannellini or Great Regular Jimmy Dean) Northern, drained or rinsed 1 small yellow onion, chopped Pepper 4 garlic cloves, minced 4 large handfuls of baby spinach 1 heaping tablespoon tomato paste (optional) OR frozen peas ~2 cups
02
Preheat oven to 425 degrees, with a rack in the middle position. In a small bowl,
03
combine the panko and butter, season with salt, and set aside.
04
In large skillet, heat the oil over high heat until it shimmers. Add the sausages
05
and cook, stirring often and breaking up the meat, until browned, about 4 minutes. Leaving as much oil in the pan as possible, transfer the sausage to a
06
medium bowl and set aside. OR add ½ -1 T dry onions + 1 clove garlic to sausage when it’s almost cooked.
07
Reduce the heat to medium-low, add the onions and garlic and cook, stirring
08
occasionally, until the onions are softened, about 8 minutes. Add the tomato paste and thyme and stir for about 30 seconds. Add the wine and briskly simmer, scraping up any caramelized bits from the bottom of the pan, until almost evaporated, about 2 minutes.
09
Add the broth and bring to a simmer, then add the beans, cooked sausage, and
10
any juices. Season with salt and pepper and simmer, stirring occasionally, until heated through and some of the liquid is absorbed, about 5 minutes. The mixture should be wet, but not drowning in liquid. Off the heat, stir in the spinach (if using). Check the seasonings, then transfer the mixture toa 3 quart baking or gratin dish.
11
Top evenly with the panko mixture and bake until bubbling and the top is golden
12
brown, about 15 minutes. Let rest for 5 to 10 minutes for serving.
13
ALTERNATIVE - no need to bake, no need for bread crumbs if you don’t want,
14
cook the sausage, add dry onions and garlic to sausage while cooking, remove sausage and make sauce (or can leave the sausage in), add tomato paste and wine or apple cider vinegar(1/4 cup) let cook off a bit, add broth, add 3 cans of beans and boil it, then add spinach (or peas).