Italian Bean and Sausage Stew
By: Anonymous
Published: Thursday, December 24, 2009 - 11:25pm

Ingredients




1 pound Italian sausage
2 mediums Onions, cut into ¾-inch pieces
1 Clove garlic, minced
1 can (28-oz) Italian Plum tomatoes, undrained, cut into bite-size pieces
1 can (16-oz) kidney beans, rinsed and drained
2/3 cup Picante sauce
1/2 teaspoon Basil leaves, crushed
1/2 teaspoon Oregano leaves, crushed
1 lrg Green pepper, cut into 3/4-inch pieces
1 medium Zucchini, sliced ½ inch thick, slices halved or quartered as desired
1 tablespoon Cornstarch dissolved in
1 tablespoon Water
2 tablespoons Grated Parmesan cheese (optional)

Preparation

1 Cut sausage into 3/4-inch pieces; remove casing. Cook in 12-inch skillet over medium-low heat until lightly browned, about 4 minutes. Add onions and garlic to skillet; cook until sausage is no longer pink, about 3 minutes; pour off drippings. Add tomatoes, beans, picante sauce, basil and oregano. 2 Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer 15 minutes. Add green pepper, zucchini and cornstarch mixture; continue to simmer 5 minutes or until vegetables are tender and sauce is thickened. Sprinkle with cheese,if desired, and serve with additional picante sauce. 3 Makes 6 servings, about8-1/2 cups stew.