Portuguese Sausage and Bean Stew

INGREDIENTS

• 2 teaspoons kosher salt, plus more for seasoning
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 8 ounces sliced smoked bacon, optional
• 8 ounces Spanish chorizo (cured spicy pork sausage), kielbasa or other spicy sausage, cut into 1/4-inch-thick coins
• 1 large yellow onion, roughly chopped
• 1 (28-ounce) can diced tomatoes
• 4 medium garlic cloves, thinly sliced
• 1/4 cup tomato paste
• 2 medium Yukon gold potatoes, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
• 1 medium bay leaf
• 4 cups water
• 1 pound dried kidney beans or great Northern beans, rinsed and picked over or 2 (15- ounce) cans or kidney beans
• 1 tablespoon sweet paprika