ITALIAN BUTTER BEAN SOUP

*Note you can buy canned butter beans and cut the prep time down considerably!

PREP: 2 hrs. 15 min. COOK: 1 hr. 30 min.
SERVES 8
1½ cups Italian butter beans (about
9 ounces), rinsed
8 cups vegetable stock
2 fresh thyme sprigs
2 fresh marjoram or oregano
sprigs
3 fresh sage leaves
6 flat-leaf parsley sprigs
1 bay leaf
1½ tablespoons extra virgin olive oil,
plus more for garnish
1 large yellow onion, chopped
(about 2 cups)
¾ teaspoon salt (plus, to taste)
Pepper (2 pinches, plus to taste)
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 medium carrot, diced (about 1
cup)
1 medium red pepper, diced (about
1 cup)
1∕3 cup white wine
10 kale leaves, ribs removed, cut in
thick ribbons (about 3 cups)
1. Place the rinsed beans in a pot, cover
generously with water and bring to a
boil. Remove from heat and set aside to
soak for 1 to 2 hours. Drain the beans
and rinse well.
2. Combine 6 cups of vegetable stock,
the beans, herb sprigs and leaves, and
the bay leaf in a soup pot and bring
to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer,
uncovered, until the beans are cooked
all the way through and beginning to
break apart, about 1½ hours.
3. While the beans are cooking, heat
the oil in a large sauté pan and add the
onion, ¼ teaspoon salt and a pinch
of pepper. Cook over medium heat
until the onion begins to soften, about
3 minutes. Add the garlic and cook
1 minute more. Stir in the carrots, red
peppers, ¼ teaspoon salt, and a pinch
of pepper and cook about 10 minutes,
adding a little stock as needed to keep
the vegetables from sticking to the pan.
Pour in the wine and cook until the pan
is nearly dry, about 3 minutes.
4. Add the vegetables to the soup
pot, along with the remaining stock,
¼ teaspoon salt, and a pinch of pepper
and cook until the flavors begin to come
together, about 20 minutes. Add the
kale and cook until tender, about 10
minutes more. Season with salt and
pepper, to taste. Remove the bay leaf,
herb sprigs and sage. Serve in warm
bowls and drizzle a little olive oil over
each serving.
Per serving (1 cup): 200 calories,
3 g fat (.5 g saturated fat), 0 mg
cholesterol, 10 g protein, 32 g
carbohydrates, 9 g fiber, 300 mg
sodium