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Kale and Bean Soup

Source of Recipe

The Columbus Dispatch-Via Jess


Recipe Introduction

Serves 4.

List of Ingredients

1 lb. kale
2 Tbsp. olive oil
1 yellow onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
1 14.5 oz. can each cannellini beans and chickpeas, drained and rinsed
4 c. water
2 c. vegetable broth
A Parmesan rind, if you have one
Shaved Parmesan for serving (I use a vegetable peeler to shave nice, wide ribbons.)
Salt and pepper




Recipe

Rinse the kale and tear the leaves away from the stems. The original recipe says to cut the leaves into 1/2-inch strips, but I just tear them into smallish pieces with my hands.

Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a large heavy pot over medium-high heat. Add the chopped onion, and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the sliced garlic, and push it around a little with the onions. When the aroma rises, add half of the beans, and mash them lightly in the pot. I find that a potato masher works best, but a fork will also do. Either way, hold onto the side of the pot with one (oven-mitted) hand while you mash to make sure that the pot doesn’t slide.

Add the water, the broth, and the Parmesan rind, if using, and bring to a boil. Stir in the kale and the remaining beans, and salt and pepper to taste. Simmer, partially covered, until the kale is tender, about 20 minutes.

Ladle the soup into bowls, and drizzle with the remaining 1 tablespoon of oil. Top with the shaved Parmesan and plenty of black pepper.

Var;
use kale or collard greens and cannelloni beans, omitting the garbanzos. Use 1 large leek in place of the onion. Chicken broth in place of the vegetable broth. 1-2 ounces grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese.