Minestra Di Ceci Umbrian Chickpea Soup Recipes

MINESTRA DI CECI (UMBRIAN CHICKPEA SOUP)

Steps:

• Soak chickpeas in full pot of cold water along with rosemary, sage, and salt. Soak overnight, then drain the next morning. Remove herbs.
• Refill slow cooker with water to 1 inch above chickpeas. Cover and cook on low 5 hours.
• Combine 7 tablespoons of olive oil and rosemary in a small saucepan over medium heat and bring just to a simmer to infuse the olive oil. Remove from heat, discard the rosemary and set aside.
• Saute garlic, carrot, onion and celery in olive oil in skillet. Season with salt and pepper, and cook until the vegetables are tender, about 4-5 minutes. Set aside.
• Puree half of the chickpeas, along with several cups of broth from the cooker, in blender. Return puree to slow cooker. Add sauteed vegetables to cooker.
• Cover. Cook on high 60 minutes.
• Serve the soup in warmed bowls with a drizzle of some of the remaining rosemary oil and sprinkle of parsley, black pepper and some grated pecorino if you wish.

PUREED CHICKPEA SOUP - PASSATO DI CECI

Steps:

• Coat a large pot with olive oil, add the pancetta and bring to a medium heat. When the pancetta starts to become crispy, add the onion, celery, carrots, 3 cloves of garlic, pinch of crushed red pepper and season lightly with salt. Sweat the veggies for 6 to 7 minutes or until they become very aromatic and start to soften.
• Drain the water from the soaked chickpeas, rinse and add to the pot. Add the chicken stock, thyme bundle, bay leaves and 1 quart of water. Bring the liquid to a boil over high heat, then reduce the heat and simmer until the chickpeas are very soft and falling apart, about 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Turn off the heat, season the water with salt and let it sit for 15 to 20 minutes.
• Fill a skillet with olive oil until it is about 1/2-inch deep, and the remaining 3 garlic cloves, the rosemary leaves and a pinch of crushed red pepper and bring it to a medium heat. Remove the garlic once it is golden; it has fulfilled its garlic destiny. Add the bread cubes and cook until they start to become crispy and golden. (They will absorb a LOT of the oil. That's why they taste good!) Season with salt and remove the croutons from the oil to a bowl, reserving the rosemary oil. MMMMM!
• Add the infused oil to the soup. Puree the soup in a food processor, blender or good old fashioned food mill. Correct the consistency and seasoning, if necessary. If the soup is too thick, cook it a little more to reduce it, or thin it by adding more stock or water. Taste to be sure the seasoning is perfect.
• Ladle the soup into serving bowls, top with the croutons and finish with a large drizzle of olive oil.
• See ya ladle!

MINESTRA DE CECI (ITALIAN CHICKPEA AND PASTA SOUP)

Steps:

• Puree half the chickpeas with 1 cup of the stock or water in a blender or food processor. Set aside.
• Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium flame. Add the garlic and rosemary and sauté until the garlic just begins to brown.
• Stir in the tomatoes and simmer for 3-5 minutes.
• Add the remaining stock, the chickpea puree and the remaining whole chickpeas.
• Season to taste with salt and pepper and simmer for 10 more minutes.
• Add the pasta and bring to a light boil until the pasta is cooked through, 8-10 minutes.
• Serve with crusty bread.
• *Variations.
• Use any small pasta for this soup: orzo, macaroni, shells. Or break spaghetti or capellini into small pieces.
• Stir in 2 cups chopped fresh spinach or chard in the last 5 minutes if you like.