Bean and Sausage Soup

Delicious soup with beans and sausage.

Ingredients

• 1 medium onion
• 2 small carrots
• 2 Tbs olive oil
• 1/2 cup diced celery
• 2 cloves garlic
• 3 large bratwurst (12 oz)
• 1/2 cup baby lima beans
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/8 tsp black pepper
• 1/2 tsp dried basil leaf
• 4 cups chicken stock
• 1 (15 oz) can great northern beans (drained and rinsed)
• 1 (15 oz) can navy beans (drained and rinsed)
• 1 (15 oz) can small red beans (drained and rinsed)
• 1 Tbs fresh parsley (chopped)

Instructions

1. Gather the ingredients.
2. Peel the onion and chop it coarsely.
3. Peel and dice the carrots.
4. Slice the bell pepper in half lengthwise and remove the seeds and ribs. Cut into 1/4-inch dice.
5. Heat the olive oil in a stockpot or Dutch oven over medium heat.
6. Add the onion and saute for about 3 minutes.
7. Add the carrots, bell pepper, celery, minced garlic, and sausage and cook for 2 more minutes.
8. If the sausage is fatty, drain off excess fat.
9. Add the lima beans, salt, pepper, basil, and chicken stock.
10. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat.
11. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 30 minutes.
12. Add drained and rinsed beans. Simmer uncovered for about 10 minutes longer.
13. Stir in the chopped parsley. Spoon the soup into serving dishes and serve. If desired, top each serving with seasoned croutons.