Tomato And Cannellini Bean Soup Food

TOMATO AND CANNELLINI BEAN SOUP

Steps:

• Beans Combine beans, onion, garlic, and bay leaves in a large pot and add cold water to cover by 2". Bring to a simmer over medium heat, add several pinches of salt, and reduce heat to low. Continue to cook at a bare simmer until beans are creamy but still hold their shape, 35-45 minutes. Let beans cool in cooking liquid; discard bay leaves.
• Do ahead
• Beans can be cooked 3 days ahead. Cover and chill.
• Soup:
• Heat 2 Tbsp. oil in a large heavy pot over medium-high. Add tomatoes, 1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes, and a pinch of salt and cook tomatoes, undisturbed, until caramelized and borderline blackened on one side, about 5 minutes. Break up tomatoes, scraping bottom of pot, and continue to cook, scraping and stirring occasionally, until tomatoes are caramelized all over, about 5 minutes more. Transfer tomatoes to a plate.
• Heat another 2 Tbsp. oil in same pot over medium. Add onion, fennel, garlic, and a pinch or so of red pepper flakes, if desired; cook, stirring often, until vegetables are soft and starting to brown around edges, 8-10 minutes. Stir in vinegar and tomatoes, scraping up browned bits. Drain beans and add to pot along with broth (for a thicker soup, use half of the broth plus 2 cups bean-cooking liquid). Bring to a simmer; season with salt. Cook until flavors meld, 30-45 minutes.
• Just before serving, stir in chard and cook until wilted. Ladle soup into bowls, top with almonds, and drizzle with oil.
• Do ahead
• Soup (without chard) can be made 4 days ahead. Let cool; cover and chill.

SIMPLE TOMATO-SPINACH-WHITE BEAN SOUP

Steps:

• Saute garlic and onion in olive oil until tender.
• Add tomatoes and herbs and cook until heated through. Season with salt and pepper.
• Add beans and broth, and cook until soup simmers. Check for seasoning.
• Just before serving, add spinach a handful at a time, until wilted.
• Serve--very good with a hunk of crusty bread and a salad.

TOMATO RICE SOUP WITH GARLIC AND CANNELLINI BEANS

Steps:

• Melt the butter in a stock pot over medium head and add the onion. Saute for about 5 minutes and then add the herbs, salt, bay leaves and rice. Saute for 2 minutes.
• Add the tomatoes and water and bring to a boil. Lower the heat to a simmer and simmer for about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• After 20 minutes add the cauliflower and cook until just tender, about 5 minutes.
• Add the beans and the garlic and continue cooking for about 5-8 minutes or until the cauliflower is tender and the garlic has lost its rawness.
• Serve with a grilled cheese sandwich for a special treat:-).

POTATO AND WHITE BEAN PUTTANESCA SOUP

Steps:

• Place a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. When hot, add 2 tablespoons olive oil and the onion, and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onion is softened.
• Reduce heat to medium and add 1/4 cup black olives, 1 tablespoon capers and the garlic. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes until the garlic is lightly golden.
• Add the tomatoes and sugar, and cook over medium heat until mixture is bubbling and tomatoes have thickened slightly, 5 minutes.
• Add the potatoes, cannellini beans, red-pepper flakes and stock; stir and cover. Cook until potatoes are tender, about 25 minutes.
• As potatoes cook, prepare the topping for your soup: Place the remaining 1/4 cup olives, 1 tablespoon capers and the parsley on a cutting board, and chop everything together.
• Once the potatoes are tender, add the balsamic vinegar. Using the back of a large wooden spoon, roughly crush or mash about a quarter of the potatoes and beans against the side of the pot. This will thicken the soup. Season with kosher salt and black pepper.
• To serve, ladle the soup into bowls and top with the caper-olive-parsley topping. Finish with a drizzle of olive oil. This soup can be made a day ahead and stored in the refrigerator. This will deepen the flavors.