is a French bean stew that is usually made with meat, tomatoes and spices. This version is amazing because it's so quick, yet tastes like it's been stewing for hours! Serve it with a loaf of French bread.

• 3 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
• 14 oz. Gimme Lean (meatless) sausage or 1 lb. uncooked pork or turkey sausage or Mornigstar Farms veg sausage
• 1 yellow onion, diced
• 1 tsp. minced garlic, (about 2 cloves)
• 1/2 tsp. dried oregano
• 1/2 tsp. dried basil
• 1/4 cup bread crumbs, or use panko
• 15 oz. diced tomatoes, with their liquid
• 15-19 oz. cannellini or white kidney beans, drained and rinsed

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. In a large oven-safe Dutch oven or deep skillet, heat 2 Tbsp. oil over medium heat. Add the sausage (if you are using meat sausage, remove it from its casing), breaking it up with the edge of a spatula, and the onions, garlic, oregano and basil. Cook the sausage and onions for 6-8 minutes, until the sausage is browned, stirring frequently. In a small bowl, combine the bread crumbs and 1 Tbsp. oil with your fingers or a fork and set it aside.
2. Add the tomatoes and beans to the sausage mixture, and bring it to a low boil. Simmer it for 3 - 5 minutes, then top it evenly with the bread crumb mixture and transfer it to the oven. Bake the stew for 10 minutes, uncovered. Remove it from the oven and serve it immediately, or refrigerate it for up to 3 days.

(This makes more of a chili than a casserole, but it's still delicious.) Brown the sausage, onions, garlic, oregano and basil in the oil (you won't need the oil if using meat sausage) and transfer to a slow cooker. Add the tomatoes, 1 lb. dried cannellini or other white beans, and 8 cups water. Cook it on High for 6 hours or on Low for 10 hours. Skip the bread crumbs.

Dice the onion, peel the garlic. 

Add ¼ tsp. crushed red pepper flakes to the pan with the sausage. 

Tip: Gimme Lean is such a realistic substitute for sausage that my family doesn't know the difference unless I reveal my secret. It is fat free and higher in fiber than traditional sausage. Look for it in your supermarket's refrigerated section.

source: SOS The Six O'Clock Scramble to the Rescue by Aviva Goldfarb

tags: can be vegetarian, vegan, pareve, crockpot