Tuscan Style Bean Soup Recipes

BEAN SOUP {TUSCAN STYLE}

Steps:

• Heat 1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil in a pot over medium heat. Add onion, carrot, celery and saute 4 minutes.
• Add garlic and saute 1 minute longer.
• Pour in chicken broth, Italian seasoning and add parmesan rind. Season with pepper and lightly with salt to taste (wait until the end to add more salt, the rind will infuse some salt to the soup).
• Cover soup with lid, bring soup to a light boil, then reduce heat to medium-low and let simmer until veggies are tender, about 12 - 15 minutes.
• Add beans and spinach, let heat just until spinach wilts, about 30 seconds.
• Remove from heat. Mash up about half the beans with a potato masher (this helps make the brother creamier and heartier).
• Remove parmesan rind. Drizzle individual servings of soup with remaining 2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil (or more to taste) and top with parmesan.

TUSCAN BEAN SOUP

Steps:

• Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat. Add the capicola, red onion and minced garlic. Cook, stirring, until the onion softens, about 2 minutes. Add the carrots and celery. Cook, stirring, until slightly softened, about 5 minutes. Add the beans, tomatoes, 2 cups water, the parmesan rind, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper. Bring to a simmer, then cover and cook until the vegetables are tender, 15 to 20 minutes. Remove the parmesan rind.
• Meanwhile, lightly toast the bread; rub both sides with the whole garlic clove and sprinkle with grated parmesan. Stir the escarole into the soup and cook, stirring occasionally, until wilted, about 5 minutes. Top each serving of soup with a piece of toast. Drizzle with the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil.

TUSCAN BEAN SOUP

Steps:

• Soak the beans in water to cover overnight. Drain and put in a kettle and add water to cover. Add the onions, bay leaf, salt and pepper. Simmer one to two hours or until cooked.
• With a slotted spoon, remove half the beans and set aside. Puree the remaining mixture, a portion at a time, in a blender. Put into a large saucepan and add the beans you set aside.
• Add the pureed tomatoes. Bring the soup to simmer, turn down heat and cook for 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile fry the garlic, pancetta and parsley in the olive oil until lightly golden. Stir into the soup. Remove from heat and let stand, covered for five minutes before serving.

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 SOUP (RIBOLLITA)

Steps:

• Heat 1/4 cup olive oil in a large stockpot over medium heat; saute onion, carrots, celery, and garlic until lightly browned, about 10 minutes. Add zucchini and cook until slightly softened, 3 to 4 minutes. Stir vegetable stock, cannellini beans, chopped tomatoes, chicken stock, and pesto into vegetable mixture; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until vegetables are tender, 30 to 35 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
• Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet or frying pan over medium heat; saute spinach until wilted, about 5 minutes. Spoon sauteed spinach into each serving bowl; ladle soup over spinach.