Tuscan Garbanzo Bean Soup Recipes

TUSCAN BEAN SOUP

Steps:

• Place the kidney beans in a medium pot, add water to cover by 2-inches and bring to a boil. (If using canned kidney beans, skip this step.) Turn the heat down, let simmer for 45 minutes to 1 hour, or until just-tender. Use the same process for the cannellini beans.
• In a large soup pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the pancetta, rendering the fat and cooking until slightly crispy about 3 minutes. Saute the onion, celery, carrot and garlic for 3 to 4 minutes. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste. Add the diced tomatoes, the cooked and drained kidney beans, cannellini beans, chick peas, and the chicken stock. Using kitchen twine, tie the herbs and the bay leaf into a bundle and add to the pot. Season with the red chili flakes, salt and pepper. Cook for 15 to 20 minutes, then add the kale. Continue cooking until the beans are completely tender.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Drizzle olive oil over the slices of peasant bread, season with a little salt and pepper and toast in the oven. Serve the soup in large bowls with grated Parmesan and a slice of toast.

GARBANZO BEAN SOUP

Steps:

• Combine the tomatoes, olive oil and 1 1/2 cans of the beans in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil. Puree the remaining 1/2 can of garbanzo beans using a blender or food processor, and stir into the saucepan. Place the sprigs of rosemary into the pan without breaking off the leaves. The sprigs will be removed before serving.
• Add acini de pepe pasta and simmer until pasta is soft, stirring gently to prevent sticking. Remove rosemary, and season with salt and pepper.

EASY CHICKPEA AND KALE TUSCAN-STYLE SOUP

Steps:

• Heat oil in a pot or dutch oven over medium heat. When hot, add the onions, carrots, celery, garlic, salt, pepper, and crushed red pepper. Cook, stirring often, until tender, about 7 minutes.
• Add in the broth, rosemary, thyme, bayleaf, tomatoes, and chickpeas. Stir to combine and increase heat to bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce heat to a simmer, cover, and cook for 15 minutes.
• After 15 minutes of cooking, add the kale and stir to combine. Cover and continue cooking until the beans are very tender and the kale has wilted, 10 to 15 more minutes.
• Remove the bayleaf, and the thyme and rosemary stems (if using fresh). Using an immersion blender, partially blend the soup leaving plenty of beans and veggies for texture. (Alternatively, transfer about 1.5 cups of the soup to a food processor or blender and blend until smooth. Return to the soup and stir to combine).
• Stir in the lemon. Taste the soup and add salt and pepper, if needed. Serve and enjoy!

TUSCAN-STYLE CHICKEN, BEAN AND TOMATO SOUP

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large saucepan over medium heat and cook the onion for 10 minutes, until soft and golden. Add the carrot and celery, and cook for 5 minutes, until just soft.
• Stir in the zucchini, tomatoes, four-bean mix, chicken stock and 1 cup (250 ml) water. Add the bay leaf, oregano and lemon zest, if using. Simmer for 20 minutes, until the vegetables are tender and the chicken is cooked through.
• Stir in the chopped baby spinach leaves and cook for 2 minutes, until wilted.

TUSCAN MASHED CHICKPEAS

Steps:

• Pour the chickpeas into a colander and rinse them under cold running water. Drain well. Place the chickpeas in the bowl of a food processor fitted with the steel blade. Add the chicken stock and pulse until the chickpeas are coarsely pureed.
• In a medium (10-inch) saute pan, heat 3 tablespoons of olive oil over medium heat. Add the tomato and saute for 3 to 4 minutes, until the tomato is softened. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute more. Add the chickpeas, stirring to combine with the tomatoes and garlic. Cook for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until heated through. Off the heat, stir in the Parmesan, parsley, lemon juice, 2 teaspoons salt, and 1 teaspoon pepper and taste for seasonings. Pile in a serving bowl, drizzle with extra olive oil, and serve with shards of grilled country bread.