Parmesan White Bean Soup With Hearty Greens Recipes

PARMESAN WHITE BEAN SOUP WITH HEARTY GREENS

Steps:

• To make the Parmesan broth: In a large pot, heat 2 tablespoons olive oil over medium-high. Add the garlic, cut-sides down, and cook until golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the Parmesan rinds, lemon rinds, thyme and 8 cups water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer and cook, uncovered, until the broth tastes full and rich and is reduced by half, 1 to 1 1/2 hours. (You will have about 4 cups of broth.) Reserve half the garlic and half the lemon rinds, then strain the broth. Season to taste with salt and pepper. (Once cool, the broth will keep for 1 week refrigerated or 3 months in the freezer. If freezing, leave a bit of space between the broth and the lid of the container, as the broth will expand.)
• To make the soup: Squeeze the garlic cloves to release them from the reserved head. Finely chop the reserved lemon rind. In a large pot, heat the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil over medium-low. Add the garlic cloves and the red-pepper flakes and cook, breaking up the garlic with your spoon, just until fragrant, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Increase the heat to medium, add the greens and 1/4 teaspoon of the chopped lemon rind and a pinch each of salt and pepper. Cook, stirring, until the greens are wilted, 1 to 2 minutes.
• Add the beans and all of the Parmesan broth and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer, cover, and cook until the greens are silky and the beans and broth are warmed through, about 10 minutes.
• Remove from heat and taste. Stir in lemon juice and additional lemon rind to taste. (You will not use all the lemon.) Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve with black pepper and grated Parmesan on top.

WHITE BEAN SOUP WITH ROSEMARY & PARMESAN

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, cook the celery, onion, carrot and garlic in oil until tender. Stir in the rosemary, salt and pepper; cook 1 minute longer. Stir in broth and beans. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, cook pasta according to package directions., Remove soup from the heat; cool slightly. Place a third of the soup mixture in a blender. Cover and process until pureed; return to pan. Drain pasta; stir into soup. Heat through. Sprinkle with cheese.

WHITE BEANS AND GREENS

Steps:

• Place bacon in a large skillet and cook over medium-high heat, turning occasionally, until evenly browned, about 10 minutes. Drain bacon slices on paper towels and chop when cool enough to handle.
• Add tomatoes, onion, and garlic to the bacon fat. Cook over medium-high until the onion has softened and turned translucent, about 5 minutes.
• Add Swiss chard and chicken stock, cover, and steam until chard is tender, about 10 minutes.
• Add beans and chopped bacon. Cook until liquid has evaporated, about 3 minutes. Sprinkle with Parmesan and season with salt and pepper.