Beans and Sausage

This recipe is fairly inexpensive.  It is also hardy, easy and tasty.  And it's fast and easy to reheat, so it's generally a freezer meal win.

Difficulty: Easy
Category: Heat and Eat
Recipe Column: DP



Serves 10

1 lb dry great white northern beans
2 tbsp oil
2 onions, sliced
1.5 lbs kielbasa, sliced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 28 oz can crushed tomatoes, juice included
4 cups vegetable or chicken broth
1 tbsp dry oregano
2 tbsp sugar
4 tbsp apple cider vinegar

1. Soak the beans overnight covered by a couple inches of cold water with a tablespoon of salt added.
2. Drain and rinse the beans.  
3. Heat the oil in a large frying pan over medium-high heat.  Add the kielbasa and the onions.  Cook stirring regularly until the sausage is brown and the onions are tender.  Add the garlic and cook for a minute more.
4. Combine the beans, sausage mixture, crushed tomatoes with juice, broth, oregano, sugar and vinegar in a crockpot.  Cook on low until the beans are tender, about 8 hours.  Add salt and pepper to taste.

To freeze:

Cool the food properly, divide into bags or containers and freeze.

To serve:

Spinach (About 2 lbs for the entire batch)

Bread (Cornbread or a crusty bread is tasty)

Thaw the beans in the fridge overnight.  Reheat them in a large frying pan over medium heat.  Add spinach and stir in to wilt.  I divide this recipe into 3 dinner portions.  To each portion I add a 10 oz to 1 lb package of spinach.  The amount is pretty flexible.  You can add a lot.  It will cook down.

Serve with bread.