Summer Carrot Tarragon White Bean Soup Recipes

CARROT AND WHITE BEAN SOUP

Steps:

• Cut garlic head in half crosswise; rub cut surfaces lightly with olive oil and wrap garlic in foil. Bake in a 400° regular or convection oven until garlic is soft when pressed, about 40 minutes. When cool enough to handle, pluck or squeeze garlic cloves from peel; discard peel.
• 2. Meanwhile, in a 6- to 8-quart pan over medium-high heat, cook onion in 1 tablespoon oil, stirring occasionally, until very limp, about 15 minutes (if onion starts to brown, reduce heat and add a few tablespoons of water). Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
• Add wine and stir often until most of the liquid is evaporated, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Add broth, saffron, and carrots. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then cover, reduce heat, and simmer until carrots are very tender when pierced, about 20 minutes.
• Add roasted garlic.
• In a blender or food processor, whirl mixture, in batches, until smooth.
• Return purée to pan over low heat; add beans and sherry. Cover and simmer, stirring occasionally, about 10 minutes.
• Add salt and pepper to taste.

WHITE BEANS WITH TARRAGON

Steps:

• Soak beans covered by 2" of water for at least twelve hours, adding water if needed; drain and rinse.
• Put beans in a soup pot with water to cover; add peppercorns, loosely, inside a single-layer cheesecloth bag or inside a tea strainer; bring to a boil and boil for 2 minutes; skim foam from the top.
• Lower heat and simmer beans, uncovered until beans are tender but not mushy, 2-2 1/4 hours; add water during cooking to keep beans covered.
• Reserve 1/4 cup cooking liquid; drain beans and return to pot or serving bowl; add olive oil, reserved cooking liquid, coarse salt, white pepper and tarragon, mixing well.
• Serve hot or room temperature; drizzle with more oil, if desired.

CARROT AND TARRAGON SOUP

Steps:

• Melt the butter in a large saucepan over moderate heat.
• Add the olive oil, onion and garlic and saute for a few minutes.
• Add the carrot to the pan and toss together until well coated.
• Add the lengths of fresh tarragon and toss together.
• Add a little salt and pepper, lower the heat and cover the vegetables with a piece of buttered wax paper or parchment paper.
• Press it down on top of the vegetables.
• Cover and let the vegetables cook over low heat for about 10 minutes.
• Remove the lid and the paper, add the broth and bring to a boil.
• Cook vegetables until soft.
• Remove and discard the tarragon stems.
• Using a hand-held blender or regular blender or food processor, blend the vegetables to a puree.
• When smooth, add the cream and reheat until quite hot.
• Serve with a little fresh tarragon for garnish.

CREAMY WHITE BEAN AND CARROT SOUP WITH ROSEMARY OIL

Steps:

• Cook the beans as directed in white-bean recipe. Drain the beans, but reserve the cooking liquid. Remove the herb stems and season with the salt and pepper. Place the beans in a food processor with 3 cups of the cooking liquid and puree until smooth. Add the remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt.
• Transfer the soup to a saucepan and place over medium heat until hot. Taste and season with additional salt and pepper if needed. Ladle the soup among 4 bowls and swirl 1/4 teaspoon of the rosemary oil into each. Garnish with a sprig of rosemary and serve.