White Bean Soup with Spicy Merguez Sausage

From the book Artichoke to Za’atar by Greg Malouf and Lucy Malouf

Introduction

Dried beans form the basis of all sorts of delicious soups, puréed into a delicious earthy smoothness. This version is spiced with sweet cinnamon and spicy merguez sausages, and has an underlying nuttiness from the hazelnut oil and the crunchy roasted-nut garnish.

Ingredients

Steps

1. Drain the haricot beans and place them in a pan with the chicken stock and cinnamon stick. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer for 1 to 2 hours until the beans are tender; cooking time will depend on their age and freshness.
2. In a frying pan, heat the olive oil and sauté the bacon, onion, garlic, and celery for about 4 minutes until they are lightly colored and softened. Add the mix to the beans and stock with the tomatoes, honey, thyme, lemon zest, and hazelnut oil.
3. To serve, bring the soup to a boil and season generously with salt and pepper to taste. Throw in the shredded spinach leaves, then garnish with slices of the merguez sausage and crushed hazelnuts.

This content is from the book Artichoke to Za’atar by Greg Malouf and Lucy Malouf.