Kale and White Bean Stew

I taught this recipe to my Dartmouth Medical Students in a Culinary Medicine Class. They couldn’t believe how delicious and easy it was! It was their favorite dish, hands down.

Time to cook 25 minutes | makes 6 servings

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp. olive oil

• 1/2 onion, diced

• 2 cloves garlic, minced

• 5 or 6 leaves fresh sage, thinly sliced

• 1/2 bunch kale, washed, stems removed, leaves chopped

• 1 small can diced tomatoes

• 1 can white beans (or one cup cooked beans), drained and rinsed

• 3 cups chicken or vegetable stock

• salt and pepper to taste

• additional chopped herbs such as rosemary and thyme to taste

• 1/2 hot Italian sausage, cut into quarters

• grated parmesan, for serving

• Using sausage in this recipe adds a great depth of flavor, but feel free to omit it for a hearty vegetarian stew.

Instructions

1. For the sausage version, cut the sausage into ½ moons. Using a large dutch oven, add oil and brown the sausage slices.

2. For both, then: Add onion and cook until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and sage and cook one minute more. Season with salt and pepper. Add white beans, tomatoes and stock. Bring to a boil and then reduce heat and simmer for at least 5 minutes, longer if you have time. Add chopped kale and allow to wilt at least 2 minutes.

3. Serve with shaved parmesan if desired.