Description
Rustic Tuscan White Bean Soup delivers a comforting embrace of Italian countryside flavors, blending creamy cannellini beans with aromatic herbs and vegetables. Warm spoonful by spoonful, you’ll savor this nourishing classic that brings Mediterranean warmth directly to your kitchen.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 cans (15 ounces / 425 grams each) white beans (such as cannellini or great northern), drained and rinsed
- 4 cups (960 milliliters) low-sodium vegetable broth
- 1 can (14.5 ounces / 411 grams) diced tomatoes
Vegetable Base:
- 1 onion, diced
- 2 carrots, peeled and diced
- 2 celery stalks, diced
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
Herbs, Spices, and Garnishes:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 teaspoons dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional, for a bit of heat)
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 2 cups (60 grams) fresh spinach leaves
- 1/4 cup (25 grams) grated Parmesan cheese (optional, for garnish)
- Fresh basil, chopped (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- Warm a spacious cooking vessel over medium flame, drizzling olive oil to coat the base.
- Sauté the chopped onion, carrot, and celery medley, stirring occasionally until vegetables transform to a tender, translucent state and release their aromatic essence.
- Introduce minced garlic to the vegetable mixture, allowing its pungent fragrance to bloom for approximately 60 seconds.
- Stream the vegetable broth into the pot, followed by white beans, tomatoes, and herb collection of thyme and rosemary. Season with salt, pepper, and optional red pepper flakes for a subtle kick.
- Elevate the liquid to a vigorous boil, then immediately reduce to a gentle simmer, allowing ingredients to harmonize and develop depth for 20-25 minutes.
- Gently fold fresh spinach leaves into the simmering soup, permitting them to wilt and integrate seamlessly within the last 5 minutes of cooking.
- Ladle the hearty soup into serving bowls, adorning with a delicate sprinkle of grated Parmesan and fresh basil leaves for a final touch of elegance.
Notes
- Customize the bean variety by using cannellini, great northern, or navy beans for different textures and flavors.
- Enhance protein content by adding cooked diced chicken or crumbled Italian sausage for meat lovers.
- Create a gluten-free version by ensuring vegetable broth is certified gluten-free and skipping Parmesan cheese for dairy-free option.
- Boost nutrition by adding extra vegetables like kale or zucchini during the simmering stage for more depth and nutrients.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 300 mg
- Fat: 6 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 28 g
- Fiber: 7 g
- Protein: 9 g
- Cholesterol: 3 mg