Italian Onion And Bean Soup With Parmesan Toast Recipes

RUSTIC RIBOLLITA (TUSCAN WHITE BEAN SOUP)

Steps:

• Chop all the produce.
• Set a large 7-8 quart saucepot over medium heat. Add 2 tablespoons olive oil to the pot. Add in the onions, carrots, celery, and garlic. Generously season with salt and pepper. Sauté the veggies for 10 minutes, stirring regularly.
• Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Set out a rimmed baking sheet. Tear the bread (sliced or unsliced) into chunks and place on the baking sheet. Drizzle with 2 tablespoon olive oil and toss well. Then spread the bread chunks out in an even layer. Toast in the oven for 8-10 minutes, flipping once. Set aside.
• To the soup pot, add in the vegetable broth, tomatoes, cannellini beans, parmesan, anchovy paste, oregano, bay leaf, and crushed red pepper.
• Partially cover the pot and simmer for 25-30 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes. Turn the heat down to medium-low if needed. (If the soup base starts to thicken too much, feel free to add in 1-3 cups of water.)
• Add in the chopped kale and toasted bread pieces. Stir well and simmer another 5 minutes, until the bread disintegrates into the broth. The texture should be thick like a stew. Taste, then salt and pepper as needed. Serve warm.

TUSCAN ONION SOUP (CARABACCIA)

Steps:

• Trim ends off onions; halve and peel. Cut onions into thin slices lengthwise along the grain.
• Heat olive oil in a very large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onions and kosher salt. Cook and stir until starting to turn translucent, 5 to 7 minutes. Reduce heat to medium and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until very soft and sweet, about 1 hour.
• Add sage leaves, pepper, cinnamon, and almonds to the onions. Cook and stir until fragrant, 3 to 5 minutes. Transfer mixture to a soup pot. Pour in red wine vinegar and broth. Bring to a simmer over high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until flavors blend, about 30 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Line a small baking sheet with aluminum foil.
• Place Italian bread on the baking sheet. Drizzle some olive oil over the bread; sprinkle sliced sage and some Parmesan cheese on top.
• Toast in the preheated oven until browned, about 15 minutes.
• Ladle soup into serving bowls and top each with a piece of toast. Drizzle remaining olive oil over the toast and sprinkle remaining Parmesan cheese on top. Dunk toast into the soup and let soak for a few minutes before serving.

PASTA AND BEAN SOUP

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a large heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat. Add prosciutto and cook, stirring, until prosciutto begins to render its fat, about 4 minutes.
• Add carrot, onion, celery and garlic. Season with salt and pepper, and cook, stirring, until softened but not browned, about 5 minutes. Add tomato paste, stir to coat other ingredients, and cook for 2 minutes. Add broth, one quart water and potatoes. Raise heat to high and bring to a boil, then lower heat and simmer until potatoes are very soft, about 25 minutes. Transfer potatoes to a bowl and mash them.
• Return potatoes to pot and stir them into soup. If not serving immediately, let cool, cover and refrigerate for a few days or freeze for up to 1 month. Reheat before proceeding.
• Add beans and pasta. Cook over medium heat until beans are warmed through, about 5 minutes. Stir in rosemary, crushed red pepper and cheese. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper, if necessary.
• To serve, ladle some soup into each of 8 bowls. Top with more cheese and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil.