Hearty Italian Bean Soup (Print Version)
# Ingredients:
→ Base Ingredients
01 -
3 cans (15 oz each) cannellini beans, drained and rinsed until the water runs clear
02 -
1 yellow onion, diced into small pieces
03 -
4 fresh garlic cloves, finely minced
04 -
2 tablespoons good quality olive oil
→ Fresh Vegetables
05 -
2 large carrots, peeled and chopped into bite-sized pieces
06 -
1 crisp celery stalk, diced
07 -
2 cups fresh kale, stems removed and leaves finely chopped
→ Liquids & Seasonings
08 -
⅓ cup Pinot Grigio or any dry white wine
09 -
2½ - 4 cups vegetable broth (adjust for desired thickness)
10 -
1 tablespoon tomato paste
11 -
1 teaspoon sea salt, plus more to taste
12 -
¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
13 -
¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes (skip if you're not a fan of heat)
14 -
¼ teaspoon Italian seasoning blend
15 -
2 dried bay leaves
16 -
1 teaspoon dried thyme
17 -
½ teaspoon dried oregano
# Instructions:
01 -
Start by warming your olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven. Add the finely chopped onion and cook until it starts to turn golden brown, releasing its sweet flavors.
02 -
Once the onions are golden, add your minced garlic, chopped celery, and carrots. Let everything cook together for about 10 minutes until the vegetables soften and start to caramelize - this is where the magic happens for deep flavor development!
03 -
Pour in the white wine and let it simmer until most of the liquid has cooked off, about 5-7 minutes. This step adds a wonderful depth of flavor to your soup.
04 -
Add all remaining ingredients except the kale. Start with 2½ cups of broth for a thicker soup. Bring everything to a gentle boil, then cover and reduce heat to low. Let it simmer for 15 minutes to marry all the flavors.
05 -
Remove the bay leaves, then transfer about 2½ - 3 cups of soup to a blender. Carefully blend until smooth, then stir this creamy mixture back into the pot. Add more broth if you'd like a thinner consistency.
06 -
Stir in the chopped kale and let it simmer just until wilted. Taste and adjust the seasoning - a bit more salt, pepper, and a bright squeeze of lemon juice works wonders. Serve piping hot with crusty bread for dipping!
# Notes:
01 -
This hearty Tuscan soup comes together in just 30 minutes and gets better the next day, making it perfect for meal prep!
02 -
For the best flavor, don't skip the wine - but if you must, you can omit it.
03 -
The thickness of the soup is customizable - start with less broth and add more until you reach your perfect consistency.