sausage, bean & spinach stew

Ingredients For sausage, bean & spinach stew

• 1 lb

  dried beans, such as great northern or large white beans, rinsed and picked through
• 8 c

  chicken broth
• 1

  onion, peeled and finely chopped
• 2

  carrots, peeled and finely chopped
• 2

  ribs celery, finely chopped
• 6 clove

  garlic, finely chopped
• 8

  sprigs fresh thyme
• 1

  bay leaf
• 1 lb

  sweet or spicy italian sausage, casings removed, shaped into 1/2" meatballs
• 1

  bunch spinach, trimmed
• juice of 1/2 lemon
• crusty bread, for serving