Sausage and Cabbage Stew With Beans and Tomatoes

By
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes and articles in her 20 years as a food writer.
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Updated on 03/15/22
Sausage and cabbage stew

The Spruce

Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 75 mins
Total: 85 mins
Servings: 8 servings

This delicious sweet-tart winter stew is packed with nutritious ingredients and has a wonderful texture thanks to the cabbage and sausage slices. One-pot stews and soups are great dishes for busy families and ours requires minimal attention once the ingredients are put on a simmer.

Choose any sausage of your liking and add other veggies that you might have at hand; our recipe is very forgiving so there's room for anything you'd like. Serve with warm bread and sprinkle Pecorino cheese on top for a hearty filling bowl of goodness.

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

  • 1 large onion, chopped

  • 1 cup diced carrots

  • 1 cup chopped celery

  • 12 to 16 ounces smoked sausage, thinly sliced

  • 3 cloves garlic, finely minced

  • 1 1/2 pounds cabbage, outer leaves and core removed, coarsely chopped

  • 1 cup apple juice

  • 1 1/2 cups chicken broth

  • 3 tablespoons cider vinegar

  • 1 1/2 tablespoons brown sugar

  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

  • 1 (15-ounce) can navy beans, or Great Northern beans, drained and rinsed

  • 2 to 3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

  • 1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes, undrained

  • Kosher salt, to taste

  • Parsley, for garnish

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Ingredients for sausage and cabbage stew
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  2. Heat the olive oil in a large Dutch oven or kettle over medium heat.

    Heat olive oil
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  3. Add onion, carrots, celery, and sliced sausage to the pan. Sauté for 3 to 4 minutes, or until onion is wilted.

    Add onions, carrots, and celery
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  4. Add the garlic and cook, stirring, for 1 more minute.

    Add the garlic
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  5. Add the cabbage, apple juice, broth, vinegar, brown sugar, and pepper. Simmer uncovered for 5 minutes.

    Add the cabbage, broth
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  6. Cover and simmer for 45 minutes.

    Cover and simmer
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  7. Add the beans, parsley, and tomatoes. Taste for salt.

    Add the beans, parsley, and tomatoes
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  8. Cover and simmer for 15 more minutes.

    Cover and simmer
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  9. Ladle in individual bowls and garnish with parsley.

    Serve stew with crusty rolls
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  10. Enjoy hot with freshly baked bread or biscuits.

Cater the Stew to Dietary Needs

Nowadays, with so many food allergies and sensitivities around, it's hard to make one dish to fit all tastes when hosting a dinner party. But this stew fulfills many dietary needs as it is already gluten-free, nut-free, and dairy-free and can be easily altered to cater to other needs:

  • Vegetarian and Vegan: Cook the stew without the sausages and instead pan-fry the meat to serve on the side for the meat-eaters to enjoy. Offer vegan sausages or roasted tofu for vegans and vegetarians.
  • Legume Sensitivity: Cook the stew without the beans. Heat beans in a pan with olive oil and salt and serve on the side.
  • Nightshade Sensitivity: Cook the stew without the tomatoes. Chop fresh cherry tomatoes and drizzle with olive oil and salt for tomato-eaters to top their bowls with for a fresh crunch.
  • Celiac Needs: Keep the recipe as is but offer rice cakes or gluten-free toast instead of bread to guests with gluten sensitivities and allergies.
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
326 Calories
18g Fat
29g Carbs
14g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 8
Amount per serving
Calories 326
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 18g 24%
Saturated Fat 6g 28%
Cholesterol 36mg 12%
Sodium 781mg 34%
Total Carbohydrate 29g 10%
Dietary Fiber 8g 27%
Total Sugars 11g
Protein 14g
Vitamin C 57mg 283%
Calcium 129mg 10%
Iron 2mg 13%
Potassium 935mg 20%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)