Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 4 ounces hot Italian sausage, casings removed and crumbled
  • 1 tablespoon minced garlic
  • 1 (14 1/2 ounce) can chicken broth, defatted
  • 1 12 lbs swiss chard, coarsely chopped
  • 12 teaspoon fennel seed
  • 12 teaspoon salt
  • 18 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
  • 1 (16 ounce) canwhole tomatoes with juice
  • 1 (19 ounce) can cannellini beans, rinsed and drained
  • 8 ounces tubetti or 8 ounces small shell pasta, cooked according to package directions
  • 13 cup diced provolone cheese

Method

  • Heat Dutch oven over high heat, add sausage and cook stirring frequently about 4-5 minutes until browned.
  • Add garlic; cook 1 minute until fragrant.
  • Add broth, Swiss chard, fennel seeds, salt and red pepper.
  • Cover and simmer 15-18 minutes, stirring occasionally until chard is tender.
  • Add tomatoes and beans to Dutch oven, stirring to break tomatoes with spoon.
  • Simmer uncovered for 5 minutes.
  • Stir in tubetti and provolone.
  • TO DEFAT BROTH: Freeze broth for 30 minutes until fat solidifies on surface.
  • Remove fat with slotted spoon.