Chicory And White Bean Soup Food

WHITE BEANS WITH CHICORY

Steps:

• Combine the beans with 2 quarts water in a 4-quart pot and bring to a boil. Skim any foam, then add the onion, crushed garlic, bay leaf and salt to taste. Reduce the heat, cover and simmer for 2 hours, until the beans are very tender. Taste and adjust seasoning. Remove and discard the onion, garlic cloves if desired, and bay leaf. Drain through a colander or strainer set over a bowl. Mash the beans with a potato masher and moisten with some of the cooking liquid. Stir in 2 tablespoons of the olive oil. The purée should be loose.
• Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a boil and add the lettuce. Cook until just tender, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a bowl of cold water and drain. Squeeze out water and chop coarsely.
• Heat the remaining olive oil in a large, heavy skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic, cook for 30 seconds, and stir in the lettuce. Cook for about 1 minute, stirring, until the lettuce is nicely coated. Season with salt and pepper. Serve with the mashed beans.

CHICKPEA AND WHITE BEAN SOUP

Steps:

• Cold soak or quick soak the chickpeas and beans together in the same pot.
• Cold soak-dump beans into a 2-3 quart container; pour in enough water to cover by at least 4 inches; let soak in a cool place at least 8 hours or up to 24 hours; drain thoroughly.
• Quick soak-place beans in a large saucepan, covering them generously with cold water; bring to a boil; boil 1 minute before removing from heat; let stand uncovered 1 hour; then drain.
• Heat oil in a 6-quart heavy pot over medium heat.
• Stir in the onions and garlic; cook, stirring, until golden, about 10 minutes.
• Add in the potato and stir until the pieces begin to stick to the pot, about 3 minutes.
• Stir in the carrots; cook until they wilt, about 2 minutes.
• Pour the crushed tomatoes with their liquid into the pot and bring to a boil.
• Pour in the hot water; add the rosemary, bay leaves, and crushed pepper flakes.
• Add salt to taste.
• Drain the chickpeas and cannellini and add to the pot.
• Bring to a boil, then adjust heat to a gentle boil.
• Cook, semicovered, until the chickpeas are tender, about 2 hours (at this point the cannellini will be very tender).
• While the soup cooks, check the level of the liquid; there should always be enough liquid to cover the beans generously; if not, add hot water as necessary.
• Make pesto-combine the basil and olive oil in the work bowl of a food processor or the blender jar.
• Process until the leaves are chopped fine.
• Add the grated cheese and continue processing until the mixture forms a rough paste; set aside.
• Stir in broken fettuccine into the soup once the beans are tender and cook, stirring often, until the pasta is al dente; add water as necessary, if the soup becomes too thick while cooking the pasta (if you are cooking the soup in advance, do not add the pasta until you reheat the soup).
• Serve soup immediately; stir a dollop of basil pesto into the soup pot or spoon a little into each warm soup bowl before ladling in the soup.

CHUNKY CHICKEN AND WHITE BEAN SOUP

Steps:

• Heat oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Toss in the onions, celery, carrots, and mushrooms. Cook until the onions are translucent and the mushrooms are browned.
• Add in the tomato paste and cook several minutes until it deepens in color. Add the red pepper flakes and garlic and cook 30 seconds.
• Place in the tomatoes, broth, basil, bay leaves, and rind. Bring to a simmer before placing in the chicken. Cook for 15 to 20 minutes until the chicken is cook.
• Remove the chicken to a cutting board and cool. Add the spinach and beans to the pot. Simmer for 15 minutes.
• While the soup simmers shred the chicken into bite size pieces. After the soup has simmer 15 minutes return the chicken to the pot and simmer for 5 minutes longer. Salt and pepper to taste. Serve topped with shredded Pecorino Romano cheese or Parmesan cheese if you like.