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Sunday, March 15, 2009

Kale and White Bean Soup

Even though the grape hyacinth, daffodils, and camellias are in full-out flower here, the temperatures tanked this week into the low 40's and it's been raining for days. Spring is trying hard, but Winter's still got us in her nasty grip. This is a perfect weekend for my favorite lo-cal, flavorful and filling soup:


Kale and White Bean Soup
Serves: a LOT!

1 pound kale, washed, stems and hard center veins removed
1 onion, chopped
3 carrots, peeled and sliced
2 ribs celery, sliced
2 T olive oil
4 C water
2 C chicken or vegetable stock
2 14.5 oz cans cannelini beans, drained and rinsed
salt and pepper to taste
grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
tobasco sauce (optional)

Cut the kale into 1 inch strips. In large saucepan, heat the olive oil over med-high heat. Add the onion, carrots, and celery; cook until the onions are softened (about 5 min). Add 1 can of the beans and lightly mash them with a fork. Add the water and stock, and bring to a boil. Stir in the kale and remaining can of beans. Salt and pepper to taste, partially cover and simmer until the kale is tender, about 20 minutes. Ladle the soup into bowls and sprinkle with Parmesan. Adding a few drops of tobasco sauce gives the soup a nice zing on a cold day.

You can have fun with this recipe. For example, after we ravaged the Christmas ham, I added the bone to a batch of this soup I was cooking up.

I usually double the batch and freeze it in individual servings. The soup freezes exceptionally well.

copyright 2009 What's Cooking?

7 comments:

  1. Hello Kate,

    This is a great recipe! Hope all is well.


    ~ Gabriela ~

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  2. definitely my idea of comfort in a bowl! and anything with parmesan cheese and a drop or two of tabasco gets my vote! :)

    (laughed out LOUD over your comment on my blog...you are too much!)

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  3. mmm...this reminds me of my mom's kale and beans soup...***salivating***
    I like your twist of grated parmesan or tobasco sauce. I have to try that.

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  4. this soup sounds really, really tasty!

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  5. i will never figure out

    how you make food
    {{ which looks So Real }}
    out of those little beads...

    :-)

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  6. Cecile/DreamCreateRepeatMar 16, 2009, 6:42:00 AM

    ummmm.....this soup sounds like a perfect food! Kale is so healthy and inexpensive....we have it once a week at least!

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