Hot Italian Sausage Soup

This week my work schedule has been so hectic, I have had to work night shift for the past seven straight days.  Most of the shifts were twelve hours.  I have had very little time to cook, but I did make this great soup.  It is spicy and so comforting.  I hope you enjoy it.

Hot Italian Sausage Soup

1.5 lbs Hot Italian Sausage, about 5 links

1 medium onion, diced 

3 carrots, peeled and diced

3 celery stalks, diced

3 garlic cloves, minced

1 tsp crushed red pepper flakes

1 tsp dried thyme

1 tsp dried oregano

2 bay leaves

35 oz can of crushed tomatoes

2 15.8 cans Cannellini Beans, drained and rinsed

5 cups chicken broth

1/2 cup Parmesan Cheese, grated

1/2 cup fresh basil leaves, torn

olive oil

salt and pepper, to taste

Remove the sausage from it casing and cut into bite sized pieces.  Then in a large dutch oven over a medium flame add 2 tbs of olive oil and the Italian sausage.  It is important not to crowd the sausage in the pot or it will not brown.  You may have to brown the sausage in two batches depending on the size of your pot. 

Pour out all but 3 tbs of oil from the pot.  Then add the onion, carrots, celery, garlic, red pepper flakes, thyme, oregano, and bay leaves.  Season with salt and pepper.  Saute for about 10 minutes.

Then add the tomatoes and  the beans.  Season with salt and pepper.  Then add the chicken broth.  Cover and let simmer for about an hour or until the vegetables are tender.  Then stir in the Parmesan Cheese and the fresh basil.

I served it with the yummy cheese stuffed rolls, but any type of bead would be good.  Let me know if you try it.