Basic Italian Bean Soup Recipes

RECIPE FOR CANNELLINI BEAN SOUP

Steps:

• In a large sauce pan saute the onions with 3 Tablespoons olive oil over medium heat until translucent.
• Add in crushed garlic and saute for 3 minutes.
• Add cannellini beans and broth.
• Cook until all beans are tender - mash down some of the beans to add some creaminess to the soup.
• Add greens and cook down for about 15 minutes.
• Add in 1/4 cup dry white wine and half the cheese. Stir.
• Cook another 10 minutes.
• Serve in bowls and sprinkle remaining cheese on top.

ITALIAN VEGETABLE SOUP

Steps:

• Gently cook the onion, carrots and celery in the oil in a large saucepan for 20 mins, until soft. Splash in water if they stick. Add the sugar, garlic, purée, herbs and courgettes and cook for 4-5 mins on a medium heat until they brown a little.
• Pour in the beans, tomatoes and stock, then simmer for 20 mins. If you're freezing it, cool and do so now (freeze for up to three months). If not, add half the Parmesan and the pasta and simmer for 6-8 mins until pasta cooked. Sprinkle with basil and remaining Parmesan to serve. If frozen, defrost then re-heat before adding pasta and cheese and continuing as above.

ITALIAN SAUSAGE AND BEAN SOUP

Steps:

• Heat a pot over medium heat. Cook and stir turkey sausage in the hot pot until browned and crumbly, 5 to 7 minutes.
• Stir carrots, onion, mushrooms, 1/4 cup parsley, and garlic into sausage. Cook and stir until onion is soft, 7 to 10 minutes.
• Pour water, garbanzo beans with liquid, beef bouillon cubes, and sage into sausage mixture. Bring to a boil, cover the pot, reduce heat to low, and simmer until carrots are tender, about 10 minutes. Skim and discard any accumulated fat. Season with salt and pepper; garnish with remaining 4 teaspoons parsley.

ITALIAN BEAN SOUP

Steps:

• Brown sausage and onion in a large pot until no pink remains. Drain any fat.
• Add remaining ingredients and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer 15 minutes or until carrot is tender and flavors have blended.
• Discard bay leaf and serve.
• Garnish with parmesan cheese and parsley if desired.

HEARTY ITALIAN SAUSAGE AND BEAN SOUP

Steps:

• Heat a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Cook and stir sausage, onion, and garlic in the hot skillet until sausage is browned and crumbly, 5 to 7 minutes. Drain and discard grease.
• Add broth, black beans, butter beans, diced tomatoes, basil, and oregano; bring to a simmer. Cover and cook for at least 10 minutes.
• Sprinkle each serving with Parmesan cheese.

ITALIAN BEAN SOUP WITH GREENS

Steps:

• In 5-quart Dutch oven, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add carrots, onion, celery and garlic; cook about 5 minutes, stirring frequently, until onion is tender.
• Stir in beans, tomatoes, basil, oregano, salt, pepper and broth. Cover; simmer 30 to 45 minutes or until vegetables are tender.
• Increase heat to medium; stir in spinach. Cover; cook 3 to 5 minutes longer or until spinach is wilted. Ladle soup into bowls; top each with cheese.

CREAMY ITALIAN WHITE BEAN SOUP

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, heat oil. Cook onion and celery in oil for 5 to 8 minutes, or until tender. Add garlic, and cook for 30 seconds, continually stirring. Stir in beans, chicken broth, pepper, thyme and 2 cups water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and then simmer for 15 minutes.
• With slotted spoon, remove 2 cups of the bean and vegetable mixture from soup and set aside.
• In blender at low speed, blend remaining soup in small batches until smooth, (it helps to remove the center piece of the blender lid to allow steam to escape.) Once blended pour soup back into stock pot and stir in reserved beans.
• Bring to a boil, occasionally stirring. Stir in spinach and cook 1 minute or until spinach is wilted. Stir in lemon juice and remove from heat and serve with fresh grated Parmesan cheese on top.