Minestrone with Italian Sausage Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon olive or vegetable oil
• 1 lb bulk sweet Italian pork sausage
• 2 medium carrots, coarsely chopped (1 cup)
• 1 medium onion, chopped (½ cup)
• 2 teaspoons dried basil leaves
• 2 teaspoons finely chopped garlic
• 5¼ cups beef broth (from two 32-oz cartons)
• 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes, undrained
• 1 can (15.5 oz) great northern beans, drained, rinsed
• 1 cup uncooked elbow macaroni (4 oz)
• 1 medium zucchini, cut in half lengthwise, then cut crosswise into ¼-inch slices (1 cup)
• 1 cup frozen cut green beans

1. In 5-quart Dutch oven or saucepan, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add sausage, carrots, onion, basil and garlic. Cook 5 to 7 minutes, stirring frequently, until sausage is no longer pink; drain.
2. Stir broth, tomatoes and great northern beans into sausage mixture. Heat to boiling; reduce heat to medium-low. Cover and cook 7 to 8 minutes, stirring occasionally.
3. Stir in macaroni, zucchini and green beans. Heat to boiling over medium-high heat. Cook 5 to 6 minutes, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are hot and macaroni is tender.