Tuscan Cannellini Bean Kale Soup Food

RIBOLLITA (TUSCAN BEAN SOUP)

Steps:

• Make the Lemon Garlic Rosemary Oil - place all ingredients in a small jar or bowl and let sit on the counter (or make the day before, refrigerating)
• In a large, heavy-bottom pot or dutch oven, heat oil over medium heat. Add onions and optional pancetta and saute 6-8 minutes.
• Lower heat to med-low and add the carrots, fennel (or celery) and garlic, salt, pepper and chili flakes, and cook another 7- 9 minutes until vegetables are tender.
• Add the tomatoes and lacinato kale, and a splash of white wine, and continue sauteing and stirring occasionally for 7-8 minutes.
• Add the stock and beans. Bring to soup to boil, turn heat down and simmer for 15 minutes.(You could add a Parmesan rind to the simmering soup for extra depth of flavor.)
• Stir in fresh Italian Parsley. Adjust salt if necessary.
• Serve in bowls with a drizzle of the flavorful lemon oil, grated Parmesan ( or Romano) and crusty bread.

TUSCAN WHITE BEAN AND KALE SOUP

Steps:

• Drain and rinse one can of cannellini beans. Add to a blender or food processor with 1 cup of chicken broth. Blend until smooth. Drain and rinse the other two cans of beans and set them aside.
• Heat oil in a large dutch-oven or soup pot over medium heat. Add bacon and cook until bacon renders fat and crisps up.
• Add onion, carrots, and celery. Cook until softened, about 6-7 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Stir in garlic and rosemary. Cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds, while stirring constantly.
• Add blended beans, drained beans, potatoes, and the remaining chicken broth. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Simmer over medium or medium-low heat, for 20-25 minutes, uncovered, or until vegetables are tender and broth slightly reduced.
• Stir in kale and simmer for a few minutes or until wilted. Taste the soup and add more salt if needed. Stir in chopped parsley. Serve soup with grated Parmesan cheese. It's also really good with crusty bread for dipping.

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.

CANNELLINI BEAN SOUP WITH KALE AND GARLIC-OLIVE OIL CROSTINI

Steps:

• Heat oil in a large pot. Add garlic and oregano and cook no more than a minute. Add tomato paste and vinegar, and cook another minute. Add beans and stock and bring to a simmer. Season with salt and pepper. Add kale and simmer, partially covered, for 1 hour. Season, to taste, again with salt and pepper before serving.
• Slice baguette on a heavy angle to create long slices. Toast in a toaster or in the conventional oven. Rub once or twice with half a garlic clove. Season a shallow plate of extra-virgin olive oil with salt and dip each side of bread into the oil. Serve as accompaniment to the soup.

TUSCAN KALE AND WHITE BEAN STEW

Steps:

• Combine the vegetable base and 8 cups water in a saucepan. Bring to a simmer, whisking to dissolve the base. Set aside.
• Place a Dutch oven or soup pot over medium-high heat. Add the butter substitute and olive oil and heat until melted. Add the carrots, celery and onions and season with salt and pepper. Saute until tender, about 5 minutes. Tie the thyme and rosemary into a bundle with kitchen string and add it to the pot along with the garlic. Cook for 1 minute more.
• 3. Add the beans and their liquid, the lemon zest and vegetable stock. Bring to a simmer and cook until the beans are tender, about 10 minutes. Add the kale, season with salt and pepper and simmer until the kale has wilted and softened a bit, 7 to 8 minutes.
• Divide the soup among bowls and drizzle with olive oil.

TUSCAN WHITE BEAN SOUP WITH HAM AND KALE

Steps:

• Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add ham, onion and garlic and cook 3 minutes, until onion is tender.
• Add sage and cook 1 minute, until sage is fragrant.
• Add broth and beans and bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer 10 minutes.
• Add kale and cook 1 minute, until kale wilts.
• Season to taste with salt and pepper.

TUSCAN CANNELLINI BEAN SOUP (VEGETARIAN)

Steps:

• Rinse beans well and place in a large pot. Cover with 4 quarts (or a little less than 4 litres) of water. Bring to a boil, cover and turn off the heat. Allow to soak for 1 hour.
• Place the olive oil, onions and garlic in a large heavy bottomed pot over medium heat. When the garlic begins to sizzle, after about 30 seconds, add the carrots and celery and continue to cook, stirring, for about 5 minute Stir in the tomatoes, basil and parsley and cook, stirring occasionally, for an additional 3 minute.
• Add 6 cups of the soaked beans, cover with 10 cups of cold water and stir to combine. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer, partially covered, until the beans are tender and creamy, at least 1 ½ but up to 2 ½ hours. Add water if necessary to achieve desired consistency; the soup should be thick. Add the salt halfway through the cooking.
• Serve with freshly grated Parmesan cheese and freshly black pepper and a drizzle of olive oil.