After a long, tiring night of traveling around the globe, you can betcha Santa and his elves need a warm, hearty meal to help them recover! Every year upon their homecoming, Mrs. Claus whips up a huge pot of North Pole Stew. She loves this particular savory stew because it’s loaded with juicy pork sausage (the jolly man’s fave!) and some tender veggies to ensure everyone is satisfied while still getting filled up with nutrients. Even the reindeer try to sneak a bite because they know how much the crew loves it (don’t worry, they get plenty of carrots to refuel)! So, whether you’ve been flying around the world hand-delivering gifts or flying around your home trying to prep for your guests, the North Pole Stew is the fulfilling, yummy soup to turn to when you need a festive pick-me-up!
Ingredients
- 1 pound bulk pork sausage
- 1 cup onion, chopped
- 1 (15.5-ounce) can great northern beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 (28-ounce) can diced tomatoes, undrained
- 2 cups cabbage, chopped
- 1 cup carrots, sliced
- 1 tablespoon white vinegar
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon hot pepper sauce
- low-sodium chicken broth or water, optional, to taste
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, minced
Directions
Step 1 –In a large saucepan over medium heat, cook the sausage and the onion until the meat is no longer pink, about 5-7 minutes. Drain the excess grease.
Step 2 –Add the beans, the tomatoes, the cabbage, the carrots, the vinegar, the brown sugar, the salt, the thyme, the paprika, the pepper, and the hot sauce to the meat mixture and bring to a boil. If you prefer a soupier stew, add the broth to taste prior to bringing it to a boil.
Step 3 –Lower the heat, cover, and simmer the stew until the vegetables are tender, about 50 minutes-1 hour.
Step 4 –Stir the parsley into the stew and cook until heated through, about 5 minutes.
Step 5 –Serve.
