Tuscan Grilled Sausage and Bean Dip

Ingredients:

Sausages and Tuscan beans

• 450g hot Italian sausages or a pack of 6
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
• 1 teaspoon chopped garlic
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• 1 can (400 g) of canned chopped tomatoes, drain the juice into a separate container
• 1 can (425 g) canned cannellini beans, rinsed
• 1 can (425 g) red kidney beans, rinsed
• 2 tbsp torn fresh basil

Three-layer bean dip

• 3 pitas with pockets, each cut into 8 wedges
• 1 package (220 g) softened cream cheese
• Zest of half a lemon
• 1 can (425 g) red kidney beans, rinsed
• 3 tablespoons dressing, leftover from the recipe for fried sausages with Tuscan beans, see recipe above
• 1 cup Tuscan beans, leftover from the Fried Sausage with Tuscan Beans recipe, see recipe above
• Half a medium red onion, diced
• Salsa

Preparation:

1. Preheat grill to medium heat.
   
   Place sausages on the grill and cook until cooked through, 20 to 25 minutes, turning every 4 to 5 minutes.
2. In a large bowl, combine the olive oil, red wine vinegar, garlic, Italian seasoning, reserved tomato juice, salt, and pepper. Set aside 3 tablespoons of the dressing for the Triple Bean Dip. Add the beans, diced tomatoes, and basil and toss to coat. Set aside 1 cup of the bean mixture for the Triple Bean Dip. Serve the remaining beans with the grilled sausages.
3. Three-layer bean dip.
   
   Preheat oven to 175°C.
   
   Place the pita wedges on a baking sheet. Bake in the oven until golden brown, about 10 minutes. Let cool completely.
   
   In a small bowl, combine the cream cheese and lemon zest and stir until smooth. Spread the cheese mixture in the bottom of the dipping bowl.
4. In a food processor, combine the red beans, reserved dressing, and a generous pinch of salt and black pepper. Blend until smooth. If the mixture is too thick, add a few tablespoons of water. Spoon the bean puree over the cheese mixture.
5. Mix the reserved Tuscan beans with red onion and spoon over the bean puree. Top with salsa. Serve with crispy pita chips.