Shrimp and Sausage Cioppino

Tonight's dinner is one of my favorite Giada De Laurentiis recipes, Shrimp and Sausage Cioppino.

Not your traditional cioppino, but definitly a hearty stew with great texture and bold flavor that is sure to warm your soul. Her recipe calls for Italian turkey sausage, but I used a spicy Italian sausage. Both just as good. I also added another half can of cannellini beans.

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 large fennel bulb, trimmed and chopped into 1/2-inch pieces
• 4 cloves garlic, peeled and smashed
• 1 large or 2 small shallots, chopped
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, plus 1/2 teaspoon
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, plus 1/4 teaspoon
• 1 pound spicy Italian turkey sausage links, casings removed
• 2 cups white wine, such as Pinot Grigio
• 1/4 cup tomato paste
• 3 cups low-sodium chicken broth
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 1 (15-ounce) can cannellini beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 cup fresh basil leaves, chopped
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme leaves
• Serving suggestion: crusty sourdough bread (I also serve it with lemon wedges)

Directions

• In a Dutch oven or large saucepan, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the fennel, garlic, shallots, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are slightly softened, about 4 minutes. Add the sausage and break into 1/2-inch pieces with a wooden spoon. Cook until brown, about 5 minutes. Add the wine and scrape up the brown bits that cling to the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon. Stir in the tomato paste, chicken broth, and bay leaf. Bring to a simmer, cover, and cook for 10 minutes.

  Uncover the pan and add the shrimp, beans, basil, and thyme. Simmer, uncovered, until the shrimp are pink and cooked through, about 4 minutes. Remove the bay leaf and discard. Season with the remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Ladle the cioppino into soup bowls and serve with crusty bread.