Tuscan Sausage, Spinach and Cannellini Beans

Name: Tuscan Sausage, Spinach and Cannellini Beans
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 55 min
Yield: 6 serving(s)
Ingredients: 1 lb hot Italian sausage links or 1 lb sweet Italian sausage link; 1 tablespoon olive oil; 2 (10 ounce) boxes frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry; 1 (16 ounce) can cannellini beans, drained; 1/2 small onion, finely diced; 3/4 cup heavy cream; 1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese, divided; 1 teaspoon lemon rind, freshly grated; 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice; 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg; salt and pepper; 1/3 cup dry breadcrumbs; 1 garlic clove, minced; 4 tablespoons butter, melted

Submitted by Snow Pea

"If you like spinach, you will like this easy, comfort food type casserole. The addition of the lemon and nutmeg helps give it a nice, fresh taste. It is important to squeeze as much liquid from the spinach as possible. I sometimes use a leftover croissant to make the breadcrumbs. This goes nicely with a Caesar salad."

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Ready In:: 55mins
Ingredients:: 14
Serves:: 6

ingredients

1 lb hot Italian sausage links or 1 lb sweet Italian sausage link
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 (10 ounce) boxes frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
1 (16 ounce) can cannellini beans, drained
¹⁄₂ small onion, finely diced
³⁄₄ cup heavy cream
¹⁄₂ cup freshly grated parmesan cheese, divided
1 teaspoon lemon rind, freshly grated
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
¹⁄₄ teaspoon nutmeg
salt and pepper
¹⁄₃ cup dry breadcrumbs
1 garlic clove, minced
4 tablespoons butter, melted

directions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Brown sausages in oil till done, drain and slice into rounds.
In large bowl, combine sausage, spinach, beans, onion, cream, 1/4 cup of the Parmesan cheese, lemon peel and juice, nutmeg, and salt and pepper.
Turn mixture into a greased 2 qt casserole.
In small bowl, mix bread crumbs, remaining 1/4 cup cheese, garlic and melted butter.
Sprinkle on top of casserole.
Bake uncovered 35 minutes, or until heated through.

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Reviews

We're usually not much into casseroles but this was very good. It gives "creamed spinach" a whole new name. The reason it's not getting 5 stars is the frozen spinach, which is easy to use, but I'm certain this would be better starting with fresh. One slight change - for the topping, I put the garlic clove, some fresh bread crumbs, the cheese and a few cubes of butter into the food processor and made a crumb mixture. Is the 6 oz can of beans is a typo? I used a 15 oz can.

OliveLover
Holy cow, this was sooooo good! My houseguest is now passed out on the couch from overindulging in seconds, lol. I loved loved loved this, Snow Pea! Fortunately, we'll have leftovers, I'm looking forward to discovering what Vina already discovered--- how good it might be the next day. I made two small teensy changes, but nothing major. For some weird reason, the grocery store was out of sausage links, their delivery truck didn't come today or some messed up excuse. I thought it was unheard of to be out of sausage links anywhere outside the U.S.S.R., just shows how much I know. :) So I substituted with chicken sausages and it was very very good! I might do it that way from now on (and I WILL be making this again!), as it wasn't greasy at all, there was hardly any fat to drain off. I substituted panko for the 'traditional' breadcrumbs, it was heaven! I might make a smidge more topping next time because I liked it so much. Everything else was done as intended and it was divine! Thanks so much for posting!

bikerchick
This is an excellent, easy to make casserole whose flavors blend together into something great. It's exceptionally easy to put together and makes your house smell terrific while baking. As I discovered last night, it tastes even better the next day. This will be one that I'll not only make often for myself, but will also take for potlucks. Thanks Snow Pea!

Vina7737