Hearty Tuscan Soup Food

TUSCAN VEGETABLE SOUP

Steps:

• In a small bowl mash half of the beans with a masher or the back of a spoon, and set aside.
• Heat the oil in a large soup pot over medium-high heat. Add the onion, carrots, celery, zucchini, garlic, thyme, sage, 1/2 teaspoon of salt and 1/4 teaspoon of pepper, and cook stirring occasionally until the vegetables are tender, about 5 minutes.
• Add the broth and tomatoes with the juice and bring to a boil. Add the mashed and whole beans and the spinach leaves and cook until the spinach is wilted, about 3 minutes more.
• Serve topped with Parmesan, if desired.

HEARTY TUSCAN SOUP

Steps:

• Heat oil in 4-quart nonstick Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Cook garlic, celery, leeks and basil in oil 3 to 4 minutes, stirring frequently, until vegetables are tender.
• Increase heat to high. Add broth and carrots; cover and heat to boiling. Reduce heat to medium-low. Add okra; cover and simmer 10 minutes.
• Stir in remaining ingredients. Cook 6 to 8 minutes or until thoroughly heated. If desired, serve with grated Parmesan cheese.

HEARTY TUSCAN BEAN SOUP

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large pan, then add the chopped vegetables and some salt and pepper. Cook very gently for 10 minutes until softened but not colored.
• Add the stock, beans, rosemary, thyme and bay leaf. Bring to the boil, then simmer for 10 minutes.
• Lift out the herbs, then using a stick blender, whizz to a roughly chunky but creamy soup.
• Stir in the ham and bring to a simmer.
• Serve garnished with a few crisp slices of bacon and a swirl of olive oil.

HEARTY TUSCAN WHITE BEAN SOUP

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a 4 quart soup pot over medium heat.
• Add the onion, garlic, carrots, celery and thyme and cook until the vegetables are tender, about 10 minutes.
• Add the chicken broth, tomatoes and bay leaf.
• Drain the beans and roughly mash 1/2 a can of beans. Add the beans and mashed beans to the pot.
• Squeeze the water from the thawed spinach and add to the pot.
• Season with salt and pepper and simmer for at least 10 minutes and up to 30 minutes.
• Add the macaroni and cook until tender according to package directions. (About 10 minutes.).
• Serve sprinkled with grated parmesan and/or pecorino romano.