Italian Soups Recipes - Filling Bean Soup (Zuppa Sostanziosa di Fagioli) Recipe

Ingredients

• 225 g/8 oz/1 1/3 cups dried white cannellini beans

• 1 large onion

• 5 ml/1 tsp olive oil

• 1 garlic clove, chopped

• 1.2 liters/2 pts/5 cups vegetable or

• chicken stock

• 1 bay leaf

• 3 celery sticks, chopped

• 3 carrots, chopped

• 3 potatoes, diced

• 4 tomatoes, skinned, seeded and diced

• 100 g/4 oz fresh or frozen peas

• 4 fresh basil leaves, chopped

• Salt and freshly ground black pepper

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Method:

1. Place the beans in a large bowl, cover with cold water and soak overnight, drain.

2. Chop the onion and place in a large saucepan with the oil. Cook until the onion is translucent.

3. Add the garlic and the cannellini beans. Pour in the stock and the bay leaf. Bring to the boil and boil rapidly for 10 minutes then reduce the heat.

4. Cover and simmer for 1 hour. Skim the surface of the soup if necessary.

5. Add the remaining ingredients and cook, uncovered, until the beans are tender. Remove the bay leaf before serving.