Tuscan White Bean Soup

In this classic Italian soup, white beans and vegetables are simmered in chicken broth with wine until tender, then pureed, and served with a spicy, fresh basil mixture.

Step: 1

In 4-quart saucepan or Dutch oven, cook bacon, onion, celery, carrot and 2 cloves garlic over medium-high heat 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat to medium. Add beans, bay leaf, wine and broth; cover and cook 20 to 25 minutes, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are tender. Remove from heat; cool about 15 minutes.

Step: 2

Meanwhile, in 8-inch skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat 1 minute. Add 1 tablespoon chopped garlic; cook 3 to 5 minutes, stirring frequently, until garlic begins to brown. Stir in red pepper flakes; cook a few seconds. Stir in basil; cook until basil wilts.

Step: 3

Remove bay leaf from bean mixture. Pour mixture into food processor; cover and puree. Return to saucepan; stir in salt and pepper. Simmer over medium heat 5 to 10 minutes, stirring frequently, until thoroughly heated.

Step: 4

Ladle soup into individual soup bowls. Top each with basil mixture.

Per Serving: 324 calories; protein 15g; carbohydrates 42.6g; fat 8.1g; cholesterol 6.6mg; sodium 1225.8mg.

The name of “stew” can process to 2 time a food and a make dishes method. Stewing involves not fast cooking piece of meat, raw fruit or beans in a tastefull liquid . It’s similar to braising, but it makes have a few piece of differences. The meat is chopped into smaller pieces instead of being cooked whole , and the water based material all of it covers the contents in a stew as different to a braise’s halfway all of it . When meat or vegetables are cooked using this method, the resulting dish is called stew.

Stew has a perception for making a rib-sticking meal that warms you up on a cold , winter day. It’s true ; a bowl of old menu of beef stew can make warming featured food , but stew’s cozy factor goes way beyond preserving you from the chill . It’s all about those tender chunks of food and vegetables, swimming in a thick, ultra-rich gravy. The more they come together creates the greatest comfort food, no matter the weather.