Florentine White Bean Soup With Pasta Recipes

LEMONY PASTA WITH ASPARAGUS AND WHITE BEANS

Steps:

• Grate the zest from the lemon into a small bowl. Halve the lemon and squeeze the juice from half of it on top of the zest. Add the white beans, shallot or onion, grated garlic, red-pepper flakes and a large pinch of salt and toss well. Drizzle in 1 tablespoon olive oil and set aside.
• Bring a large pot of heavily salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook until just shy of al dente, usually 2 minutes less than the package directs.
• Meanwhile, heat a 12-inch sauté pan over medium-high heat. When hot, add the remaining 3 tablespoons oil, then add the asparagus. Sauté until the asparagus is tender and starting to brown at the edges, 7 to 10 minutes. Add a big pinch of salt and the sliced garlic and sauté until the garlic is lightly golden, 1 to 2 minutes longer.
• Dip a coffee mug or glass measuring cup into the pasta water and scoop out about 1/2 cup of it to use for the sauce. Drain pasta, shaking it well. Add pasta, bean mixture, parsley and Parmesan to sauté pan and cook until the beans are hot and the pasta is al dente. If the mixture looks dry, splash in some (or all) of the reserved pasta water. Squeeze remaining lemon half over pasta, toss and taste. Season with pepper; add more salt, red-pepper flakes and lemon juice, if desired.

WHITE BEAN AND PASTA SOUP

Steps:

• Sort beans and rinse with cold water. Place beans in a Dutch oven or soup kettle; add water to cover by 2 in. Bring to a boil; boil for 2 minutes. Remove from the heat; cover and let stand for 1 hour. Drain and rinse beans, discarding liquid., In the same pan, cook the sausage, onion, carrot and garlic over medium heat until the meat is no longer pink; drain. Add the broth, water, currants, basil and reserved beans. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 1-1/2 to 2 hours or until the beans are tender, stirring occasionally., Add tomatoes and pasta; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 15 minutes or until pasta is tender. Serve with cheese.

FLORENTINE WHITE BEAN SOUP WITH PASTA

Steps:

• Place beans in large pot.
• Add enough cold water to cover beans by 3 inches.
• Let stand overnight.
• Drain beans well.
• Return to pot.
• Add 16 cups water, 5 unpeeled garlic cloves, and celery stalk.
• Bring mixture to boil; reduce heat to low and simmer 1 hour 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Meanwhile, heat 2 tablespoons oil in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat.
• Add onions and 3 chopped garlic cloves and sauté until golden brown, about 10 minutes.
• Add tomatoes with juices, rosemary, sage, and celery salt to mixture, stirring to combine.
• Add vegetable mixture to bean mixture in pot.
• Simmer soup until beans are tender, about 45 minutes.
• Cook pasta in another large pot of boiling salted water until tender but still firm to bite, stirring occasionally.
• Drain well.
• Add cooked pasta and remaining 3 tablespoons olive oil to soup, stirring to combine.
• Thin soup with more water, if desired.
• Season soup to taste with salt and pepper and serve.
• Makes 12 first-course or 6 main-course servings.

FLORENTINE WHITE BEAN SOUP WITH PASTA

Steps:

• Place beans in large pot. Add enough cold water to cover beans by 3 inches. Let stand overnight.
• Drain beans well. Return to pot. Add 16 cups water, 5 unpeeled garlic cloves, and celery stalk. Bring mixture to boil; reduce heat to low and simmer 1 hour 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Meanwhile, heat 2 tablespoons oil in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onions and 3 chopped garlic cloves and sauté until golden brown, about 10 minutes. Add tomatoes with juices, rosemary, sage, and celery salt to mixture, stirring to combine.
• Add vegetable mixture to bean mixture in pot. Simmer soup until beans are tender, about 45 minutes.
• Cook pasta in another large pot of boiling salted water until tender but still firm to bite, stirring occasionally. Drain well. Add cooked pasta and remaining 3 tablespoons olive oil to soup, stirring to combine. Thin soup with more water, if desired. Season soup to taste with salt and pepper and serve.

ITALIAN WHITE BEAN AND PANCETTA SOUP

Steps:

• In an 8-quart pot, saute pancetta in the olive oil until soft, about 10 minutes. Add onion and celery; cook and stir until the onion has softened and turned translucent, about 5 minutes. Sprinkle with sage, 1 teaspoon salt, and black pepper. Pour in the chicken stock, cover, and bring to a boil. Stir in the drained beans, cover, and reduce the heat to low. Simmer for 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, cook the pasta in 4 quarts boiling water with 1 teaspoon salt until al dente, about 10 minutes. Drain and add to the soup.
• Stir in minced parsley before serving, and sprinkle with grated cheese.