Ragout of Cannellini, Sausage, Clams, and Broccolini

People say babies are cute so you won't eat them. Not true. You'd never go through this much effort for such a small meal. 

And since we can't eat that delicious baby...

It's time to get back into the kitchen! Cooking will be hurried, impromptu, and more often than not informed by TV since I spend about 6 hours a day feeding the little nugget in the rocking chair and there's not much else to do without free hands. I've got backlogs of episodes of Jacques Pépin and Lidia Bastianich and will be making unashamed use of them.

Since my time (and sanity) is limited, I'll be showing you some seriously easy food. If there's a step that can be skipped, it will be. If there is a way to make it faster or with fewer dishes, I will. I'll try to incorporate those tips into the recipes when it makes sense to do so.

If you liked the Cannellini Beans with Tomatoes and Chard you'll love this one, a ragout of those same beans with crumbles of Italian sausage, broccolini, and clams. I never cook clams, mostly because I never think of it, but when Jacques Pépin recommended using canned clams for this dish it seemed entirely too easy to pass up. Would fresh clams be better? Yes. Would I ever cook it? No.

What is a "ragout" anyway? It's a French word for stew. "Ragout" just sounds better than "stew", in the same way "rustic" sounds better than "sloppy".

The sauce of this ragout comes from the liquids from the cans of beans and clams, which may not sound all that special, but I was surprised by how much body the bean juices added to the dish without any other thickeners.

These beans won't win any beauty contests but they are delicious and perfect for piling into a bowl, wrapping a hot towel around the bottom, and taking it to the sofa while you tuck into your favorite shows.

Not only can you make this in under 30 minutes, it's a one-pot meal with very few dishes to wash.

Ragout of Cannellini, Sausage, and Clams
A homey stew that comes together quickly. Vibrant broccolini, more delicate than broccoli, cooks quickly and keeps its deep green color without pre-blanching. The liquid from the beans gives the sauce a nice body without any additional thickener.  Earthy, spicy comfort food.

Adapted from Jacques Pépin's More Fast Food My Way 

Serves 4

1 Tbs. olive oil
1/2 lb. hot Italian sausage, removed from casings
1/2 medium onion, small dice
4 cloves garlic, minced
dried red chile flakes, to taste, optional
1 can cannellini beans
1 can clams
1 bunch broccolini, cut into 2" pieces
Parmesan cheese, optional

Remove the casings from your sausages by using the tip of a knife to slice them lengthwise. The casings can then be peeled away easily.

Heat the oil in a high-sided skillet over medium heat. Pinch and crumble the sausages into the pan with your fingers.  Cook 2-3 minutes or until lightly browned but not cooked through. Add onion, garlic, and chile flakes. Cook 3-4 minutes or until onion is soft.

Open the cans of beans and clams but keep lids. Use the lids to hold solids in the can while you pour the liquids into the skillet. Add broccolini. Increase heat to medium-high, cover (use foil if you don't have a lid), and simmer 3-4 minutes or until broccolini is tender to your liking.

Uncover. Add reserved beans and clams. Adjust salt and chile flakes as needed. Simmer until heated through.

Serve in bowls, drizzled with a bit of olive oil and topped with freshly grated Parmesan cheese.

Comments

[Mary Suhami]

Wow, wonderful recipe. Loved the Ragout, yes it does take around 30-40 mins to cook.

Thanks from the heart

Mary

[Ricbi]

I found your recipe when I was scanning the Internet for easy and fast recipes since my 1-year old won't let me spend too much time in the kitchen neither. And it was great and easy to prepare. Thanks for sharing it :-)