Good Eating Monday: Slow Cooker Sausage Spinach & White Bean Soup!

Today's recipe is Pinterest slow cooker recipe for soup I tried around the end of March when weather was still cool.

The recipe is "Slow Cooker Sausage Spinach & White Bean Soup."

It's pretty good actually. Simple to make, but like all soups you can add or subject ingredients as you like!

I don't use celery in recipes simply because I use two stalks for the recipe and the rest goes to waste in my frig.

I had spinach in the garden, so that's what inspired me to try the recipe.

Romaine or even finely sliced cabbage can be substituted for Spinach, use use your favorite color bean and add other vegetables you like.

Using a spicy sausage or kielbasa does boost the over-all flavor of this soup! At the bottom I have some seasoning suggestions if you choose a non-spicy meat.

(photos are mine)

Slow Cooker Sausage Spinach & White Bean Soup

Ingredients:

1 Tablespoon olive oil1 package (12.8 oz) smoked Andouille Sausage, thinly sliced

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 medium onion, diced

3 carrots peeled & diced  (or 1 cup matchstick carrots)

2 stalks celery, diced

2 cans (15oz) Great Northern White Beans

1 teaspoon oregano

2 Bay leaves

4 cups chicken broth

2 cups of water

3 cups of baby spinach

salt & pepper to taste

Directions:

In skillet, heat olive oil, add sliced sausage and cook, stirring frequently until lightly browned.

In slow cooker: add all ingredients except spinach and stir to combine. Season with salt & pepper to taste.

Cover slow cooker and cook on LOW 7 - 8 hours or HIGH 3 - 4 hours.

15 minutes before prior to serving, stir in Spinach so it wilts. Serve with crusty bread or garlic bread or cornbread!

(Actually I stirred in some leftover shredded cheese I had on hand and thought that was a plus!)

******

This soup recipe depends on the spicy sausage a lot for flavor and if you prefer a non-spicy kielbasa, you'll want to use more seasoning to bring out that feel of rich sausage flavor: dried sage, thyme, poultry seasoning & a pinch of red pepper!

The leftovers were better the next day as all leftovers usually are.