Italian sausage, white bean, and vegetable soup

Italian sausage, vegetable and white bean soup with garlic croutons

Yields approx 4-5 liters

For soup:

1lb white beans soaked overnight and cooked; keep ½ whole and puree the other the half

500 gram Italian sausage, removed from casings

1-3 T olive oil

1 onion diced

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 large carrot, peeled and diced

3 stalks celery, sliced

1 bunch kale, stems removed and discarded, leaves chopped

1 head fennel, diced

1 sweet pepper, seeded and diced

1 leek, trimmed, washed, and cut

4 T tomato paste

3 liters water

1 tsp ground fennel

Salt and pepper

Chili flakes to taste

cook sausage in pot, breaking up with spoon till cooked.

add olive oil if needed to pot. Add veggies and cook till soft

add water, tomato paste, kale, salt and pepper. Simmer till vegetables soft

add the whole and pureed white beans; bring back to a boil; serve topped with croutons

For crouton garnish:

2 ½ cup diced day old bread

4 T olive oil

1 minced garlic clove

Salt and pepper

toss bread with oil and garlic

place on cookie sheet and bake in 375 degree oven till golden

remove from oven and season with salt and pepper