Chef Michael Long
The Main Course for the Seasoned Chef February 13 Four Cities of Italy
 
Siena
 
Sausage Ribolitta
 
Serves 6

·         3tablespoons olive oil
·         2cloves garlic, thinly sliced
·         8 oz Italian sausage meat, crumbled.
·         1onion, chopped
·         1/4teaspoon crushed red chili pepper flakes
·         1carrot, chopped
·         1rib of celery, chopped
·         28ounces (1 can) plum tomatoes
·         1teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
·         1potato, peeled and diced
·         1pound cavolo nero, or any other variety of dark kale, trimmed and chopped into bite sized pieces
·         15ounces (1 can) cannellini beans, rinsed and drained
·         4-6thick slices of country bread, torn into pieces
·         5cups chicken or vegetable stock

1.       Heat olive oil in a large, heavy-bottomed soup pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add garlic, onion, and crushed red chili pepper flakes. Brown the sausage and remove.Sweat the onions until translucent, about 5 minutes.
2.       Toss in the carrot and celery with a pinch of salt and sweat the vegetables 10 minutes.
3.       Meanwhile, trim the hard stem ends off the tomatoes and discard. Crush the tomatoes with your hands.
4.       Pour the tomatoes (and their juices) into the pot with the thyme, potato, and 4 cups stock. Bring the soup to a simmer, turn the heat down and partially cover with the lid. Keep the soup at a low simmer for about 20 minutes.
5.       Toss in the kale with a cup of stock, a pinch of salt and some freshly ground pepper. Partially cover the pot and simmer for 10 minutes.
6.       Add the canned beans and continue to simmer the soup 5 more minutes. Adjust thickness. It should be thick but not too thick….not dry at all!
7.       Stir in the bread and serve with a drizzle of spicy Tuscan extra-virgin olive oil. Pecorino cheese can also be added over the top.