Tuscan Bread Soup Authentic Ribollita Recipes

TUSCAN BREAD SOUP - AUTHENTIC RIBOLLITA RECIPE

Steps:

• in a 4 qt stockpot over medium-high heat add the olive oil, onion, carrot, celery, and potatoes. Cook the vegetables for 4-5 minutes.
• Add in the zucchini and garlic, continue to saute for 1-2 minutes.
• Add in the vegetable stock, crushed tomatoes and cannellini beans. Bring to a boil.
• Add in the chopped savoy cabbage, chard and farro. Bring back to a boil, then add in bread cubes. and reduce the heat to simmer.
• After the soup has cooked for about 45 minutes, add in romano cheese and reseason as needed with sea salt and black pepper.

EASY AND COMFORTING RIBOLLITA (TUSCAN BREAD SOUP)

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, gently fry the onion, carrot, celery, bay, rosemary, and a pinch of sea salt in 2 tbsp oil over a medium heat for 10 minutes.
• Add the garlic, potatoes, leek, and remaining oil, and continue to cook for another 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Add the tomato purée mixed with water, and the cabbage, kale, and chard, and stir well.
• Tip the entire contents of 1 can of beans into a blender or food processor, plus the aquafaba from the other can, and 1.5 litres (6 cups) broth. (Set the drained beans aside for now.)
• Blend for a few seconds, until you have a smooth bean broth (broda dei fagioli). Stir half of this into the pan.
• Bring the soup to the boil, then reduce the heat, and simmer for around 2 hours, occasionally stirring in more bean broth until it's used up.
• When the vegetables are cooked, and the soup is creamy, stir in the rest of the beans, plus the bread.
• Cover, and set aside to rest for around 30 minutes, before serving into bowls, and seasoning with a few grinds of black pepper and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil.
• Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the 'fridge for up to a week.

RIBOLLITA

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cover the beans with cold water by 1-inch and cover with plastic wrap. Allow to soak overnight in the refrigerator.
• Drain the beans and place them in a large pot with 8 cups of water, and bring to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer uncovered for 45 minutes. Add 1 teaspoon of salt and continue to simmer for about 15 minutes, until the beans are tender. Set the beans aside to cool in their liquid.
• Meanwhile, heat the oil in a large stockpot. Add the pancetta and onions and cook over medium-low heat for 7 to 10 minutes, until the onions are translucent. Add the carrots, celery, garlic, 1 tablespoon of salt, the pepper, and red pepper flakes. Cook over medium-low heat for 7 to 10 minutes, until the vegetables are tender. Add the tomatoes with their puree, the cabbage, if using, the kale, and basil and cook over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, for another 7 to 10 minutes.
• Drain the beans, reserving their cooking liquid. In the bowl of a food processor fitted with a steel blade, puree half of the beans with a little of their liquid. Add to the stockpot, along with the remaining whole beans. Pour the bean cooking liquid into a large measuring cup and add enough chicken stock to make 8 cups. Add to the soup and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer over low heat for 20 minutes.
• Add the bread to the soup and simmer for 10 more minutes. Taste for seasoning and serve hot in large bowls sprinkled with Parmesan and drizzled with olive oil.

RIBOLLITA (TUSCAN WINTER SOUP) RECIPE

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• Boil the beans in water to cover by about 2 inches (4 centimeters), adding more boiling water if need be to keep them submerged, and lightly salting them when they're almost done.
• At this point, sauté the onion, carrot, celery, and parsley in the oil in a heavy-bottomed pot.
• When the onion has become translucent, about 5 to 8 minutes, add the tomato paste and the cooking liquid from the beans.
• Add the kale, beet greens or chard, and potatoes.
• Stir in the cooked beans and season to taste with salt, pepper, and a sprig of thyme.
• Simmer until the potatoes are tender and can be pierced easily with the tines of a fork, about 10 to 15 minutes.
• Remove the thyme and discard.
• Take a serving dish that can be heated and fill it with alternating layers of thinly sliced bread and soup, making sure the bread is damp-until the soup is used up.
• Serve and enjoy!

RIBOLLITA (ITALIAN VEGETABLE AND BREAD SOUP)

Steps:

• First take one of your onions, and chop it so that you have one cup of chopped onions.
• Heat 2 tablespoons in a large oven-safe pot or dutch oven over medium heat. Once heated, add the chopped onions, carrots, celery, and garlic. Season generously with salt and pepper, and let the vegetables sauté for about 10 minutes, until soft and just starting to gain a little color. You may want to reduce the heat a little once the veggies get going.
• Keep an eye on the sautéing vegetables while you slice the remaining two onions. You want to have round slices that will hold their shape and not fall apart. You can probably get 8-9 slices out of a large onion. Set aside.
• Drain and rinse one can of the beans, then place in a food processor to puree. If you don't have a food processor you can mash with a fork or potato masher. Pureeing the beans helps to give the soup its distinctive texture. Drain the rinse the second can of beans, but leave those beans whole.
• By now your vegetables should be nicely sautéed. Stir in the oregano, tomatoes, beans, and tomato paste, and let simmer for 2-3 minutes.
• Add 5 cups of vegetable broth to the pot, and bring the soup to a steady simmer. Add the parmesan rind, and let simmer for 20 minutes.
• Arrange your oven racks so that your pot will fit in your oven. Heat your oven to 500 degrees.
• Stir in the swiss chard or kale, then place the slices of bread on top of the soup, arranging them in a single flat layer so they do not overlap. I like to cut the slices of bread in half to make this easy.
• Next, arrange the onions on top the bread, letting them overlap slightly. You want the liquid of the soup to be just reaching the onions, if it isn't, go ahead an add more broth to the soup. Now take that 1/4 cup of olive oil, and brush half of it over the onions.
• Sprinkle half of the Parmesan on top.
• Bake uncovered for 20 minutes, then remove from the oven. Check the amount of liquid in the pot, adding more if necessary. You want the liquid to be just reaching those onions - it is better to have extra liquid than to have your soup dry out or overcook. Next brush the remaining olive oil over onions, and sprinkle with the remaining cheese. Return the soup to the oven for another 20-25 minutes, until the onions are golden brown.
• Remove the soup from the oven, and stir it up. It is meant to be very thick, but you can always add more broth if you find it to be too thick. Sometimes I just top off each bowl of soup with a few tablespoons of extra broth.
• Traditionally Ribollita is served with olive oil poured in the shape of the letter "C" on top, and no cheese. I however, I do like to sprinkle Parmesan over the soup. Please don't tell the Italians. I also garnish with some fresh basil with adds a burst of fresh flavor to the soup.

RIBOLLITA (TUSCAN BREAD SOUP)

Steps:

• Sort, wash and drain the beans. Soak overnight in enough water to cover by 2 inches. Alternatively, quick-soak the beans by boiling them for 5 minutes in the same amount of water. Remove from heat and let stand, covered, for 1 hour.
• Drain the beans and put them into a saucepan with 1 1/2 quarts of cold water. Bring the beans to a boil, lower the heat and simmer, partially covered, for 45 minutes or until tender, but not mushy. Drain.
• Toast the bread lightly; it should not be dark brown. Cut each slice into 4 pieces. Set aside in a dry place, such as an unheated gas oven.
• Bring the stock to a boil in a 4-quart saucepan and add the kale. Reduce the heat and simmer for 10 minutes. Add the carrots and cook for 10 minutes. Add the potatoes, garlic and beans and let simmer for about 5 minutes, or until the potatoes are barely tender. Add salt and pepper to taste.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Ladle a layer of soup into a 10- cup ovenproof casserole. Cover the soup with a single layer of toast squares. Drizzle 1 tablespoon of olive oil over the toast. Repeat with the remaining soup and toast and more of the oil, ending with a layer of soup. Push the toast gently with a spoon to insure that it is submerged. Drizzle the rest of the oil over the top.
• Cover and bake for 40 minutes; for a firmer-textured soup, uncover for the last 20 minutes. Serve with grated cheese on the side.