Tuscan White Bean Kale Soup Recipes

TUSCAN WHITE BEAN KALE SOUP

Steps:

• Slice the leeks then rinse them well in a colander with cold water.
• Preheat a heavy bottom stock pot over medium flame and add a splash of water and the cleaned leeks with a pinch of sea salt. Saute for a few minutes until they have collapsed and begin to caramelize. (add more liquid if needed to make sure they don't burn).
• Meanwhile rinse the squash, discard the seeds and cut it into one inch pieces. Add it to the pot with the leeks together with the thyme, rosemary and bay leaves. Give everything a good stir and add the minced garlic and garlic powder. Stir again and pour in the veggie stock.
• Bring the soup to a simmer then add the vegan parmesan (or nutritional yeast) and cook for about 25 minutes until the squash is cooked through.
• Add the cooked beans to the soup and simmer until warm. Discard the bay leaf and thyme sprigs. Taste and adjust seasonings with sea salt and black pepper to your taste.
• Transfer two cups of the soup to a blender and puree until smooth. Add the puree back into the soup pot and mix to combine.
• Rinse the kale well and remove the stems. Chop it into small pieces and add it to the soup. Cook a couple of minutes until wilted. Serve hot with a pinch of the red pepper flakes and lemon wedges on the side.

RUSTIC TUSCAN-STYLE SAUSAGE, WHITE BEAN, AND KALE SOUP

Steps:

• In a large pot, heat 2 tablespoons olive oil over medium heat. Add sausage and brown, stirring occasionally to break into smaller pieces, approximately 10 minutes.
• Add onion, carrots, potato, and bay leaves. Season generously with kosher salt and cook until vegetables begin to soften, stirring occasionally, approximately 10 minutes. Add garlic and beans, and cook for another 2-3 minutes. Add kale, and cook until it becomes slightly wilted. Add chicken stock, season with salt and pepper, and cover with lid.
• Bring soup to a boil, then reduce heat and keep at a simmer for about 45 minutes, although a bit longer is completely fine. The soup will thicken as the potatoes begin to release their starch into the soup.
• *the soup tastes best the second day. If time allows, cool soup completely, and refrigerate it for the following day. Reheat before serving.
• When about ready to serve, slice baguette. Drizzle each slice with a little olive oil and season with kosher salt. Bake at 350 degrees for about 5 minutes, until toasted. Top with grated gruyere and asiago cheese and broil for about 2-3 minutes, until cheese is melted. It can go from melted to burnt pretty fast, so don't leave broiler unattended.
• Divide soup among bowls and top with a few slices of cheesy baguette.

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.