Description
Hearty Tuscan white bean soup delivers rustic Italian comfort straight from Tuscany’s countryside kitchens. Creamy beans, aromatic herbs, and rich broth combine for a soul-warming meal you’ll savor with each nourishing spoonful.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Vegetables:
- 1 onion, diced
- 2 carrots, diced
- 2 stalks celery, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 cups fresh spinach
Protein and Beans:
- 2 cans (15 ounces / 425 grams each) white beans (cannellini or great northern), drained & rinsed
Liquids and Seasonings:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 4 cups vegetable broth
- 1 teaspoon fresh rosemary (or 1/2 teaspoon dried)
- 1 teaspoon fresh thyme (or 1/2 teaspoon dried)
- 1 bay leaf
- Salt and pepper to taste
Optional Additions:
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- Parmesan cheese for garnish
- Extra virgin olive oil for drizzling
Instructions
- Prepare the aromatic base by gently warming olive oil in a spacious pot over moderate heat, allowing the temperature to rise evenly.
- Introduce diced onions, carrots, and celery into the pot, sautéing the vegetables until they become tender and translucent, releasing their subtle flavors.
- Add minced garlic to the vegetable mixture, stirring continuously to prevent burning and enhance the overall fragrance of the foundation.
- Pour white beans into the pot, followed by vegetable broth, creating a harmonious liquid environment for the ingredients to meld together.
- Sprinkle fresh rosemary, thyme, and nestle a bay leaf into the liquid, infusing the soup with herbaceous undertones.
- Allow the mixture to reach a gentle boil, then reduce the heat, permitting the ingredients to simmer and develop a rich, cohesive flavor profile.
- Carefully fold fresh spinach into the soup, watching it gracefully wilt and integrate into the liquid landscape.
- Taste and adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper, ensuring a balanced and nuanced flavor experience.
- Remove the bay leaf to prevent any potential bitter notes in the final preparation.
- Ladle the soup into serving bowls, creating an inviting presentation.
- Enhance the dish with a delicate drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and a sprinkle of freshly grated Parmesan cheese.
- Serve alongside rustic, crusty bread to complete the Tuscan-inspired culinary journey.
Notes
- Boost vegetable flavor by slightly caramelizing onions, carrots, and celery before adding garlic for deeper, richer taste profile.
- Swap fresh herbs with dried if unavailable, using one-third the quantity to maintain balanced seasoning intensity.
- Create gluten-free version by ensuring vegetable broth is certified gluten-free and serving with gluten-free bread option.
- Enhance protein content by adding cooked chicken or crispy pancetta for meat lovers, transforming soup into a more substantial meal.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 200
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 500 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 8 g
- Protein: 10 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg