Comfort Food: Homemade Soup and Croutons

by Michele Cheplic | More from this Blogger

15 Feb 2009 05:54 PM

A lazy Sunday afternoon is the perfect time to make a large pot of steaming hot soup. Not only will it help warm you up on cold winter's day, but also if you plan ahead you can make enough to take to work the next day.

This recipe for Classic Tuscan White Bean Soup will fill your kitchen with irresistible aromas, as will the homemade croutons, which give off an enticing scent of warm garlic:

CLASSIC TUSCAN WHITE BEAN SOUP

Ingredients:

2 cups dried cannellini or other white beans, rinsed, soaked overnight and drained

6 cups water

1 teaspoon salt

1 bay leaf

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 yellow onion, coarsely chopped

3 carrots, peeled and coarsely chopped

1 large tomato, seeded and chopped

1/2 cup chopped spinach

6 cloves garlic, chopped

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary

2 cups vegetable stock or broth

2 tablespoons fresh basil, chopped

Directions:

In a large soup pot, over high heat, combine the white beans, water, 1/2 teaspoon salt and the bay leaf. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to low, cover partially and simmer until the beans are tender, 60 to 75 minutes.

Drain the beans, reserving 1/2 cup of the cooking liquid. Discard the bay leaf. Place the cooked beans into a large bowl and save the cooking pot for later use.

In a small bowl, combine the reserved cooking liquid and 1/2 cup of the cooked beans. Mash with a fork to form a paste. Stir the bean paste into the cooked beans.

Return the cooking pot to the stove top and add the olive oil. Heat over medium-high heat. Stir in the onion and carrots and saute until the carrots are tender-crisp, 6 to 7 minutes. Stir in the garlic and cook until softened, about 1 minute. Stir in the tomatoes and spinach. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer until the soup is heated through, about 5 minutes.

Remove from heat and stir in the basil. Ladle the soup into bowls and stop with homemade croutons.

HOMEMADE CROUTONS

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

2 cloves garlic, quartered

3 slices whole-grain bread, cut into 1/2-inch cubes

Directions:

Heat olive oil over medium heat in a large frying pan.

Add the garlic and saute for one minute.

Remove from the heat and let stand for 10 minutes to infuse the garlic flavor into the oil.

Remove the garlic pieces and discard.

Return the pan to medium heat.

Add the bread cubes and saute, stirring frequently, until lightly browned, 3 to 5 minutes.

Transfer to a small bowl use to garnish soup.

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Learn more about Michele Cheplic

Michele Cheplic was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii, but now lives in Wisconsin. Michele graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Journalism.

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