Swiss Chard Minestrone With White Beans Recipes

SAUTEED SWISS CHARD AND BEANS

Steps:

• Wash Swiss chard to remove dirt and sand
• Remove stems from the leaves.
• Cut stems into 1 inch pieces and parboil JUST the stems in acidulated water (1 quart water with 2 Tablespoons lemon juice added) for 3 to 5 minutes; drain.
• Cut the chard leaves into 1 inch strips. Cook JUST the leaves in a skillet over medium heat for 3 to 5 minutes in the water that clings to the leaves. Once leaves are wilted, remove from pan and set aside.
• In a large skillet over medium heat; add olive oil. Saute parboiled stems until tender, approximately 5 minutes.
• Add drained and rinsed cannellini beans and garlic; stirring constantly for 30 seconds (be careful not to burn garlic).
• Add wilted Swiss chard leaves to the mixture. Season with salt and pepper.
• Serve hot. An additional drizzle of olive oil and grated Parmesan cheese are optional toppings.

SWISS CHARD AND WHITE BEAN MINESTRONE

Steps:

• Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion and cook for 4-5 minutes to soften. Add the swiss chard and cook for 5 minutes, stirring often until softened. Add the stock and beans and gently bring to a boil. Season with sea salt and black pepper.
• Toast the ciabatta until golden on both sides. Rub the toasted bread with the cut sides of the garlic, then place each one in a serving bowl. Drizzle each piece of bread with olive oil and ladle soup over the bread. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese and serve immediately.

CLASSIC ITALIAN MINESTRONE (SOUPE PAYSANNE)

Steps:

• In a large casserole or soup pot, cook the pork fat over medium-high heat until there is some fat in the bottom of the pot, about 5 minutes, stirring constantly.
• Then add the potatoes, cabbage, chard, onion, and garlic until the greens are wilted, about 5 minutes.
• Pour in the water, bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low, add the beans, ham or smoked bacon, and tomato, and cook until the beans are tender, 2 to 3 hours.
• Add the elbow macaroni and continue to cook until a spoon can stand straight up in the center of the soup, and the pasta is tender--about 15 minutes.
• Season with salt and pepper, drizzle with olive oil, and serve.

SWISS CHARD AND CHICKPEA MINESTRONE

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil over medium-low heat in a large, heavy soup pot or Dutch oven. Add the onion, carrots and celery. Cook, stirring, until beginning to soften, about three minutes. Add 1/2 teaspoon salt and the leek. Continue to cook, stirring often, until tender, about three minutes. Add the garlic, stir for about a minute, and then stir in the water, tomato paste and the bouquet garni. Bring to a simmer. Add salt to taste, reduce the heat to low, cover and simmer 30 minutes. Stir in the chickpeas. Taste and adjust salt. Remove the bouquet garni.
• Add the Swiss chard and the pasta to the soup, bring back to a simmer, and simmer another 10 minutes or until the pasta is cooked al dente. Grind in some pepper, taste and adjust seasonings. It should be savory and rich-tasting. Serve in wide soup bowls, with a sprinkling of Parmesan over the top.

WHITE BEAN AND SWISS CHARD SOUP (LIKE NO OTHER)

Steps:

• Over medium heat, sautee the onions and fennel until tender, approximately 10 minutes.
• Add garlic, prociutto and red pepper flakes and sautee for approximately 5 minutes.
• Add beans, chicken stock and bouillon dissolved in water to the pan and bring to a low boil.
• Add pasta and cook al dente according to package (approximately 6 minutes).
• When pasta has about 2 minutes to go, add roasted red peppers, sun dried tomatoes, swiss chard, sage, basil and nutmeg. Cook until chard is wilted but still a nice bright green.
• Add the juice of 1/2 lemon and salt and pepper to taste.
• Serve piping hot with grated parmesan.

CHEF JOHN'S MINESTRONE SOUP

Steps:

• Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in large stock pot over medium-high heat. Add pancetta; cook and stir until it begins to brown, 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in onions and celery; cook and stir until onions start to turn translucent, about 3 minutes. Stir in minced garlic and cook for another minute.
• Pour chicken broth, water, and plum tomatoes into the pancetta and onion mixture. Bring to a simmer.
• Stir cranberry beans, cabbage, garbanzo beans, red pepper flakes, Italian seasoning, and 2 teaspoons salt into broth mixture. Bring to a simmer and cook until cranberry beans are tender, adding more water as needed if the soup becomes too thick, about 45 minutes.
• Stir in Swiss chard and simmer until softened, about 15 minutes. Season with salt and black pepper to taste.
• Stir in pasta and increase heat to medium-high and simmer until pasta is tender, about 15 minutes. Ladle into bowls and top with extra virgin olive oil, Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, and Italian parsley.