Tuscan Bean Soup With Prosciutto And Grated Parmigiano Reggiano Food

TUSCAN BEAN SOUP WITH PROSCIUTTO AND GRATED PARMIGIANO-REGGIANO

Steps:

• Combine the beans and their liquid with the garlic, salt, thyme, basil, and 2 cups of water in a large saucepan and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 5 minutes to meld the flavors. Remove about 1 1/2 cups of the beans, returning any garlic or basil to the saucepan. Use an immersion blender to purée the remaining beans in the pot until smooth.
• (Alternatively, let the soup cool slightly then transfer it to a blender or food processor and purée, holding the lid down tight so the hot liquid doesn't splatter out.) Stir in the reserved beans and cabbage and thin the soup with water if necessary. Cook the soup over medium heat until the cabbage wilts and is slightly tender, about 5 minutes.
• Divide the soup evenly among four large soup plates or bowls, filling them to just below the rim. Drizzle each serving with high-quality olive oil and grate a thin layer of Parmesan cheese over them. Tear one slice of the prosciutto into a few pieces and rumple the pieces onto one bowl of soup; repeat with the remaining prosciutto slices.

TUSCAN BEAN SOUP

Steps:

• Place the kidney beans in a medium pot, add water to cover by 2-inches and bring to a boil. (If using canned kidney beans, skip this step.) Turn the heat down, let simmer for 45 minutes to 1 hour, or until just-tender. Use the same process for the cannellini beans.
• In a large soup pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the pancetta, rendering the fat and cooking until slightly crispy about 3 minutes. Saute the onion, celery, carrot and garlic for 3 to 4 minutes. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste. Add the diced tomatoes, the cooked and drained kidney beans, cannellini beans, chick peas, and the chicken stock. Using kitchen twine, tie the herbs and the bay leaf into a bundle and add to the pot. Season with the red chili flakes, salt and pepper. Cook for 15 to 20 minutes, then add the kale. Continue cooking until the beans are completely tender.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Drizzle olive oil over the slices of peasant bread, season with a little salt and pepper and toast in the oven. Serve the soup in large bowls with grated Parmesan and a slice of toast.

TUSCAN WHITE BEAN SOUP

Steps:

• Soak beans in plenty of water overnight, then drain and rinse well.
• Heat 2 tablespoons of the oil in a heavy-bottomed soup pot and add leeks. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring frequently, until leeks begin to soften.
• Add celery, garlic, and carrots and cook, stirring frequently, for 10 minutes. Add stock, rinsed beans, herbs, salt, and pepper. Bring soup to a boil, then cover, reduce heat, and allow to simmer over low heat for 1 - 2 hours until the beans are cooked.
• If you prefer your soup more creamy, puree a third of the soup in a blender and pour back into the pot. Taste and add the lemon juice, and more salt and pepper if needed.
• Ladle soup into individual bowls. Top each portion with some of the remaining olive oil and sprinkle with cheese, if desired.
• Serve with a huge hunk of crusty wholegrain bread and glass of red wine!

TUSCAN WHITE BEAN SOUP WITH PROSCIUTTO

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large stockpot over medium heat. Add the prosciutto, and sauté for 2 minutes. Add the onion, celery, carrot and garlic; sauté for 2 minutes or until soft.
• Add the water, beans, bay leaves, and broth and bring soup to a boil. Partially cover, reduce heat, and simmer for 20 minutes.
• Add the parsley, sherry, and black pepper; cook for one minute. Discard bay leaves.

TUSCAN GARBANZO BEAN SOUP

Steps:

• cook pasta according to directions.
• at same time, in a medium saucepan , heat oil over medium heat. add onion, garlic, rosemary and red pepper flakes.
• add chicken broth, tomatoes, carrot and garbanzo beans, reserve 1 cup beans.
• bring to boil, stir occasionally, then reduce heat and simmer 15-20 minutes.
• puree vegetable mixture in food processor and return to saucepan.
• add drained pasta and reserved beans and heat through, add extra broth if soup is too thick.
• top with cheese.

CHEF JOHN'S TUSCAN BEAN SOUP

Steps:

• Heat olive oil over medium-high heat in a large pot. Add butter; allow butter to melt. Add onion, celery, and carrot and cook and stir until onion begins to turn translucent and golden, about 7 minutes. Stir in garlic; cook 1 more minute. Add beans and broth. Season with salt, pepper, rosemary, thyme, and cayenne pepper. Set heat to medium high and bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to low and let simmer until vegetables are tender, about 30 minutes.
• Place bread cubes in a saute pan. Drizzle with olive oil; season with a pinch of salt and pepper. Toast bread cubes over medium heat until golden brown and crunchy, tossing occasionally, about 10 minutes. Sprinkle grated cheese over the bread cubes and continue to brown cubes about 2 more minutes.
• Puree soup with an immersion blender until it is very smooth. Whisk in creme fraiche. Stir in lemon juice. Serve topped with browned bread cubes and chopped parsley.