Italian Black Bean Soup – A Slow Cooker Recipe

This is by far one of my favorite bean soup recipes. 

Italian Black Bean Soup 

2 cups dry black beans, rinsed and checked

½ medium onion, chopped

½ lb. Italian-style sausage

1 15oz can Italian-style diced tomatoes

2 cloves garlic, crushed

1 tsp. dried crushed basil

2 cups baby spinach leaves

Salt and pepper to taste 

Soak beans overnight in cold water.  Drain and place in a medium slow cooker.  Cover with warm water and cook on high for 4 hours stirring occasionally.  Brown sausage with onion and drain away any fat.  Add to beans along with tomatoes, garlic and basil.  Cook one more hour. 

Stir in spinach leaves and serve. 

This soup goes wonderfully with a big garden salad and freshly baked cornbread.  It freezes nicely too.