Beans and Franks Tuscan-Style

This isn't your run-of-the-mill 'beans and franks' we're talking about here.

Recipe Ingredients:

1 pound Italian turkey sausage links*
1/4 cup water
1 small red bell pepper, sliced
1 small green bell pepper, sliced
1 medium red onion, sliced
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1 to 2 tablespoons olive oil
1 (15-ounce) can red beans, drained and rinsed
1 (15-ounce) can Great Northern beans, drained and rinsed
1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes, undrained
1/4 cup dry red wine (optional)
1 teaspoon dried sage leaves
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

Cooking Directions:

1. Cook sausage in covered skillet over medium heat with 1/4 cup water until sausage is cooked through, about 8 minutes; uncover and continue cooking until sausage is browned, 3 to 5 minutes. Cool slightly; cut into 1/2-inch slices.
2. Cook bell peppers, onion and garlic in oil in covered large skillet over medium heat until vegetables are tender and soft, but not browned, about 10 minutes.
3. Combine sausage, peppers, and remaining ingredients in 2-quart casserole. Bake, covered, at 350°F (175°C) for 30 minutes; uncover and bake to desired thickness, about 1 hour.

Makes 6 servings (about 1 cup each).

*Or other Italian sausage links, if desired. Nutritional information is based on turkey sausage.

Nutritional Information Per Serving (1/6 of recipe): Calories 300; Fat 10g; % Calories from Fat 28; Potassium 529mg; Carbohydrate 34g; Folate 106mcg; Sodium 1169mg; Calcium 116mg; Protein 22g; Dietary Fiber 10g; Cholesterol 38mg.

Recipe provided courtesy of The Bean Education & Awareness Network.