Roasted Italian Sausages with Tomatoes and White Beans

Ingredients

2-1/2 pounds sweet Italian sausage links (pork or turkey), cut into 2- or 3-inch pieces
3 pints cherry tomatoes
1 medium-large yellow onion, cut into 1-1/2 inch chunks
4 garlic cloves, sliced
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1-1/2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
2 teaspoons dried thyme leaves
3 whole bay leaves
Salt and pepper
4 16-ounce cans white beans, such as cannellini, drained, with ½ cup of liquid from the beans reserved

Preparation

Adjust oven rack to lowest position and pre-heat oven to 425 degrees.

Mix everything except the beans and their reserved liquid in a roasting pan (or oven proof casserole dish). Place pan in oven and roast until sausages are brown and tomatoes have reduced to a thick sauce, about 45 minutes. Remove from oven, stir in beans and reserved liquid. Return pan to the oven, and continue cooking until casserole has heated through, about 10 minutes longer. Remove bay leaves and transfer to a large serving bowl. Serves 8.

Serving suggestions:
Serve over a bed of brown rice, along with a side Caesar salad.