SAUSAGE AND BEAN SOUP

Sausage and Bean Soup image

Provided by Food Network

Time 50m

Yield 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 15

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
1/2 pound Italian sausage, casing removed
4 cups chicken stock
3 garlic cloves, sliced
2 bay leaves
1/2 cup diced carrots
1/2 cup diced celery
1 large potato, peeled and diced into 1/2-inch cubes
1 small zucchini, diced
Two 15.5-ounce cans cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
One 2-inch-square piece Parmigiano cheese rind
1/2 pound small shell pasta
Grated Parmigiano cheese, for serving at the table

Steps:

In a large pot, heat oil over medium heat. Add onion and cook, stirring occasionally until softened--about 3 minutes. Add sausage, breaking it up with a wooden spoon, and cook until browned--about 5 minutes. Add stock, scraping up the browned bits on the bottom of the pot with a wooden spoon. Add garlic, bay leaves, carrots, celery, potato, zucchini, beans, parsley and cheese rind. Bring to a boil, and then reduce to a simmer. Cover and cook for 30 minutes; the stock will slightly thicken. Remove and discard bay leaves and cheese rind.
Meanwhile, cook pasta in salted water until al dente. Place 1/2 cup of pasta in each soup bowl and ladle soup over pasta. Serve with cheese.