Estate Dinners
Tuscan White Bean Stew with Smoked Sausage and Swiss Chard
The Strategy:
Crispy pancetta and rich smoked sausage create a deeply savory base for this comforting, Tuscan-inspired stew. Simmering creamy white beans and tomatoes with fresh rosemary sprigs infuses the broth with a warm, woodsy aroma. Fold in fresh Swiss chard at the very end so it wilts gently while retaining its beautiful green color.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
- ½ pound pancetta, diced
- 1 medium white onion, peeled and diced, about 1 cup
- 2 medium carrots, peeled, trimmed and chopped, about 1 cup
- 3 medium celery ribs, sliced, about 1 cup
- 4 medium garlic cloves, peeled and minced, about 1 tablespoon
- 1 (15-ounce) can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 (15-ounce) can white navy beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 (14.5-ounce cans) diced tomatoes
- 1 pound smoked sausage, diced
- 1 cup homemade chicken stock or prepared low sodium broth
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon coarse black pepper
- 2 to 3 sprigs fresh rosemary
- ½ pound Swiss chard, chopped, about 2 to 3 cups leaves
- Parmesan cheese, grated, for garnish
Instructions
Stew Prep & Simmer
- Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a deep pot over medium-high heat.
- Add the pancetta and cook until golden and crispy, about 3 to 5 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the pancetta to a platter lined with paper towels.
- Pour in 1 more tablespoon olive oil.
- Add the onion, carrots, and celery and cook until the vegetables are soft, about 5 minutes.
- Stir in the garlic.
- Pour in the beans and tomatoes.
- Add the smoked sausage and pancetta.
- Pour in the chicken stock.
- Season with salt and pepper. Submerge the rosemary sprigs.
- Cover the pot, reduce the heat to medium low, and simmer for 15 minutes.
Swiss Chard & Garnish
- Remove the lid and add the Swiss chard to the stew.
- Cover and simmer for 5 minutes more. If the stew is too thick, add more chicken stock. If the stew is thinner than you like, turn up the heat, take off the lid and cook until some of the liquid is reduced.
- Serve with a garnish of Parmesan cheese.
The Heart of the Table
This thick, hearty stew is the ultimate comfort food, bringing a warm, rustic Italian charm straight to the table. Serving it family-style with plenty of grated Parmesan invites everyone to scoop up bowls of comfort and enjoy a slow, satisfying dinner together.
The Art of the Host
- a hand-cut glass mixing pitcher with a diamond-cut pattern
- a sleek, solid brass Japanese double jigger with inner measurement lines
- a seamless, high-heat resistant silicone spatula in a soft slate grey
- unbleached, pre-cut parchment paper sheets for clean releases
- a pre-seasoned double-burner cast-iron grill pan with high ridges
Neighborly Grace
- THE PRESENTATION: Serve the stew in a large, warmed ceramic tureen, topped with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and a generous dusting of freshly grated Parmesan.
- THE POUR: A medium-bodied Chianti or a warm infusion of red grape juice and a splash of balsamic vinegar.
- THE VIBE: Evening Dining Room. A warm fire crackles in the background as guests share the thick, comforting stew and crusty bread on a cool evening.