Tuscan Bean And Vegetable Soup Recipes

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.

TUSCAN BEAN AND VEGETABLE SOUP

Steps:

• Place the onion, garlic, celery, and carrot in a large saucepan and stir in the tomatoes, red wine, vegetable stock and oregano.
• Bring to a boil, cover, and simmer for about 15 minutes. Stir the beans and zucchini into the mixture and continue to cook, uncovered, for another 5 minutes.
• Add the tomato paste and season well with salt and pepper. Heat through, stirring occasionally, and cook another 2-3 minutes but do not allow mixture to boil again.
• Ladle the soup into warm bowls and serve with a spoonful of low-fat pesto on each portion. Serve with fresh crusty bread.
• PESTO SAUCE:.
• Place all of the ingredients in a blender or food processor and process for a few seconds until smooth. You can finely chop the basil and mix all ingredients together if no blender or processor is available.

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.