parmesan white beans and rice

1 cup dry great northern or cannellini beans (soaked and cooked ahead or 2 cans of beans)
1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 cup long grain white rice
2 links (1/3 lb) mild italian sausage
1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese
2 cups chicken stock
3 cloves garlic, finely chopped or minced(garlic powder works well too)
1/2 medium onion, diced
salt and pepper to taste

brown italian sausage in a skillet, drain sausage and set aside on paper towels to absorb excess grease. pour 1 tbsp olive oil into a pot or sauce pan and cook diced onion until tender, just before onion is done add chopped/minced garlic and cook for just a minute or so. Add dry rice to this mixture and stir until rice is coated with the left over oil in the pan. Now pour in the 2 cups of chicken broth and bring to a boil. cover and reduce heat to a simmer, cook for 15 minutes or until rice is done. remove lid and let sit. While rice is cooking, pour the beans into the skillet and warm them up. I normally pour just a little of the liquid from cooking the beans into the skillet too. Once rice is done combine the rice, sausage and beans into either the pot or the skillet and stir together gently. top with the grated parmesan cheese.


Number of Servings: 10

Recipe submitted by SparkPeople user CARRIEANN0413.