Sunday, October 4, 2009

Summer Stew (also tasty in the fall, winter, and spring)

I am reluctant to actually call this a Summer Stew as it is a very hearty dish, good for fall, winter, spring, or summer.

SUMMER STEW




Serves: 4 heaping bowls or 6 regular servings
Total Time: 30 min.
Ingredients
  • 2 tablespoon(s) extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 medium onion, halved and chopped
  • 2 clove(s) garlic, minced
  • 1 medium/large zucchini, halved lengthwise and sliced
  • 1 medium/large yellow summer squash, halved lengthwise and sliced
  • 1 tablespoon(s) chopped fresh oregano, or 1 teaspoon dried
  • 1/4 teaspoon(s) salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon(s) freshly ground pepper
  • 1 can(s) cannellini or great northern beans, rinsed (see Note)
  • 2 cans diced tomato (drained)
  • 1 tablespoon(s) red-wine vinegar
  • 1/2 cup(s) finely shredded Parmesan cheese
  • ½ lb Ham (diced)
  • ½ lb Smoked Sausage (sliced)
Directions:
  1. Brown Ham and Sausage. Set aside.
  2. Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add onion and garlic and cook, stirring, until beginning to soften, about 3 minutes. Add zucchini, summer squash, oregano, salt and pepper and stir to combine. Reduce heat to low, cover and cook, stirring once, until the vegetables are tender-crisp, 3 to 5 minutes.
  3. Stir in beans, tomatoes and vinegar; increase heat to medium and cook, stirring, until heated through, about 2 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in Parmesan.
  4. Note: While we love the convenience of canned beans, they tend to be high in sodium. Give them a good rinse before adding to a recipe to rid them of some of their sodium (up to 35 percent) or opt for low-sodium or no-salt-added varieties. (These recipes are analyzed with rinsed, regular canned beans.) Or, if you have the time, cook your own beans from scratch.



This tastes great on its own, but can be added to rice or pasta.

6 comments:

  1. I have to try this--looks so good! Great tip on the beans, it's one of those things that I forget to do...

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  2. This really is one of my favorite recipes. It is so easy. Also, if you like your veggies firmer / crunchier, you can undercook the squash or put it in after the tomatoes.

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  3. Yummy comfort food. We could use some right now, honey, chilly as it is in Michigan. Course, Deb says it snowed already where she lives in Canada! Yikes!

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  4. This seems so tasty; I'm a big fan of stew. Thank you so much for your wonderful whole wheat personal pizza recipe on your wife's blog! It has changed my day ... I know what I want to eat now.

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  5. This is the perfect time of the year for the stew... let me know if you try it, I'd love to hear how it goes.

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  6. Thanks Dan! I will definitely try this soon. It's a little warm here right now for stew. It was actually a cool 85 today but it's been in the 90's all week.

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