Description
Rustic Tuscan white bean soup brings hearty Italian comfort straight to kitchen tables with creamy cannellini beans and aromatic herbs. Rich Mediterranean flavors mingle in each spoonful, inviting you to savor winter’s warmest culinary embrace.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 cans (15 ounces or 425 grams each) cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
- 4 cups (960 milliliters) vegetable broth (or chicken broth)
- 1 can (14.5 ounces or 411 grams) diced tomatoes, with juice
- 2 cups (60 grams) fresh kale or spinach, chopped
Vegetables and Aromatics:
- 1 large onion, diced
- 2 carrots, diced
- 2 celery stalks, diced
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional, for heat)
Finishing Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice (optional, for brightness)
- Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
- Grated Parmesan cheese (for serving)
Instructions
- Prepare the aromatic base by sautéing diced onions, carrots, and celery in olive oil over medium heat until vegetables become translucent and tender, approximately 6-7 minutes.
- Introduce minced garlic to the vegetable mixture, stirring continuously to prevent burning and releasing its fragrant essence for 1-2 minutes.
- Incorporate tomato paste and dried herbs like thyme and rosemary, allowing the ingredients to caramelize and develop deep, rich flavors for about 2 minutes.
- Gently pour vegetable broth into the pot, creating a flavorful liquid foundation for the soup.
- Add drained cannellini beans and diced tomatoes, ensuring even distribution throughout the liquid.
- Bring the mixture to a gentle boil, then reduce heat and allow the soup to simmer, permitting the ingredients to meld and intensify their collective taste for 18-20 minutes.
- Introduce fresh kale or spinach, stirring them into the simmering soup until they wilt and become tender, approximately 4-5 minutes.
- Season the soup with salt, pepper, and a splash of lemon juice to brighten the overall flavor profile.
- Carefully ladle the soup into serving bowls, garnishing with fresh chopped parsley.
- Accompany the soup with grated Parmesan cheese and a slice of crusty bread for a complete, comforting meal.
Notes
- Customize the heat level by adjusting red pepper flakes for mild or spicy preferences.
- Enhance protein content by adding cooked chicken, sausage, or plant-based alternatives for a heartier soup.
- Transform into a creamy version by partially blending beans or adding a splash of heavy cream for extra richness.
- Make it gluten-free by ensuring vegetable broth and ingredients are certified gluten-free, perfect for sensitive diets.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 450mg
- Fat: 6g
- Saturated Fat: 1g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 27g
- Fiber: 7g
- Protein: 8g
- Cholesterol: 0mg