Crockpot Tuscan Sausage and White Bean Ragu with Buttered Gnocchi.
This ragu is perfect for a busy weekday or even a casual Saturday night of entertaining. I would definitely grab some extra crusty bread to mop up all that extra sauce. I'd also load up on the parmesan because, well that's just me lovin' my cheese, and hey, it's winter and cheese just makes a dish that much cozier.
Prep Time10 minutes mins
Cook Time8 hours hrs 30 minutes mins
Total Time8 hours hrs 40 minutes mins
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Servings: 6 SERVINGS
Calories: 602kcal
- 1/2 of a sweet onion finely chopped
- 4 cloves garlic minced or grated
- 2 (28 ounce) cans whole san marzano tomatoes
- 3 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1/2 cup red wine
- 2 teaspoons dried basil
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano
- 2 leaves bay
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and pepper
- 1 pound ground spicy Italian sausage
- 1 bunch Tuscan kale roughly chopped
- 3 cups cooked white beans
- 1 pound gnocchi
- 2 tablespoons butter
- fresh basil and parmesan cheese for topping
Using your hands, crush the tomatoes over the bowl of a 4-8 quart crockpot. Add the onion, garlic, tomato paste, red wine, dried basil, dried oregano, bay leaves, salt and pepper. Give everything a good stir.
Now grab the sausage and roll it into very tiny, bite size balls, adding the to the crockpot as you go. The smaller you can roll the balls, the better. Gently stir the sausage into the sauce. Cover the crockpot and cook on low for 6-8 hours. 30 minutes before serving, stir in the kale and white beans. Crank the heat up to high, cover and cook another 20-30 minutes.
Meanwhile, cook the gnocchi according to package directions and then toss with 2 tablespoons butter and a little fresh basil + parmesan.
To serve, divide the gnocchi among plates or bowls. Top with the ragu and then garnish with basil and parmesan. Enjoy!
Calories: 602kcal | Carbohydrates: 55g | Protein: 23g | Fat: 28g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Cholesterol: 67mg | Sodium: 1498mg | Potassium: 885mg | Fiber: 8g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 1265IU | Vitamin C: 16.3mg | Calcium: 153mg | Iron: 8.1mg