You would think with the weekend behind me, I might have more leftovers to show for it. With kids practices, playdates and a Super Bowl, I am facing an evening tonight without a dinner plan, which is so often the case on any weeknight.
This is where it is so important to have your own team of staples; food items to have in the freezer, fridge and pantry that can be forged into a meal fast.
Everyone has his or her own list of pantry staples. For me, cooked beans in the pantry, Italian sausage in the freezer and some type of leafy green in the fridge is a given. So, when I’m in the need of a good meal, fast, I often turn to a White Bean, Sausage and Kale Stew I remember as a child.
White beans, greens and sausage are a classic Italian combination for good reason. They are a perfect mélange of textures and tastes. The soft creamy beans mellow any heat from the sausage and together they support a hardy green like broccoli rabe or, in our case, winter kale.
I have seen this dish most often with broccoli rabe, sometimes known as rapini. I have to be in the mood for broccoli rabe and its strident bitterness. My kids would have to be sedated. So, I use kale instead, and it’s a good choice for this time of year.
Winter kale, especially fresh from the farmer’s market, is tender and much sweeter than any other time of year. We almost always have a bunch in the fridge these days. You can also find winter kale in the grocery store, which reflects the sweet undertones I’m talking about. It just tends to be slightly tougher so it’s important to strip out the center stalk and cut up the leaves.
Is this a stew or a soup or a sauce? I can’t decide. It easily adapts to any whim. Some days I amp up the olive oil, tone down the broth and add some parmesan cheese making it a hardy topping for pasta. Today, I add only a puddle of broth so I can slurp it all up in a spoon. Tomorrow, I’ll reheat in the morning using more broth then spoon into heatproof containers for school lunchboxes.
We all need meals we can throw together when we are busy and tired. The preparation for White Bean, Kale and Sausage Stew couldn’t be easier. After 15 minutes, it’s ready to be served yet has the comforting, rib-sticking nature of a dish that took all day to create.
A house full of food, a day full of rain and a quick dinner for tonight. Not so bad for a Monday.
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