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Full of cozy ingredients, the Tuscan White Bean Soup Recipe is a comforting meal full of Italian inspiration. Cannellini beans add rich, creamy texture to this soup along with fragrant herbs, crisp vegetables, and a drizzle of olive oil. This soup is full of flavor with each spoonful. It is the ultimate comfort dish to make on a chilly evening or a nutritious meal prepable throughout the week.

What Is Tuscan White Bean Soup?

Tuscan White Bean Soup is an Italian-style white bean soup recipe that consists of cannellini beans (or other white beans), onions, garlic, herbs, and broth as the main ingredients. It is usually topped with a drizzle of olive oil and occasionally with leafy greens such as kale or spinach.

The origin of this dish is in the rural area of Tuscany, where simple and yet hearty food is the order of the day. Creamy beans combined with the savory broth make it wholesome and filling.

The First Time I Had Tuscan White Bean Soup

Tuscan White Bean Soup was the first time I ever had soup in a small village in Italy. I was sitting at a family-run trattoria, and the proprietress emerged with a bowl of this soup that had just been made with herbs picked in their garden. The smell of it could stop me in my tracks, and a single bite took me to a feeling of comfort and ease. I have since then reproduced it at home whenever I want a hearty and soul-satisfying dish.

Ingredients

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 medium yellow onion, diced

2 carrots, peeled and diced

2 celery stalks, diced

3 garlic cloves, minced

1 teaspoon dried thyme

1 teaspoon dried rosemary

1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional, for a little heat)

4 cups low-sodium vegetable or chicken broth

2 (15-ounce) cans cannellini beans, drained and rinsed

1 (15-ounce) can diced tomatoes, with juice

2 cups chopped kale or spinach

Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Juice of 1/2 lemon

Fresh parsley and grated Parmesan cheese, for garnish (optional)

Instructions

1. Sautee Aromatics

Heat the olive oil in a large soup pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the onion, carrots, and celery and sauté minor approximately 67 minutes until the vegetables start to become tender. Add the garlic, thyme, rosemary, and red pepper flakes (if using) and cook 1 minute more until fragrant.

2. Add Beans and Broth

Add the broth, beans, and diced tomatoes (with juice). Combine all in a pot and simmer. Cover and simmer 15 to 20 minutes to combine flavors.

3. Puree (Optional)

To make it creamier, use an immersion blender to give a light mix to some of the soup in the pot. Or, work 1-2 cups at a time in a blender, then stir back into the soup.

4. Greens Stir-ins

Stir in the roughly torn kale or spinach and cook 5 minutes more until greens are wilted and tender.

5. Complete and Sign

Sprinkle in the lemon juice and add salt and black pepper to taste to the soup. Hot serve, trim with cut fresh parsley and Parmesan cheese, should it be wished.

Recipe Tip and Variations

Add sausage: Brown some Italian sausage and add it along with the vegetables to make it meaty.

Fresh herbs: In case you have fresh rosemary or thyme, it will bring the flavor to another level.

To make it vegan: Sub vegetable broth and omit the Parmesan topping.

Accompanied with crusty bread: A piece of rough Italian bread is a nice accompaniment to mop up the tasty broth.

Why You Will Enjoy This Recipe

1. Healthy and nourishing

2. Naturally gluten-free and simply made vegan

3. Meal prep and freezer-friendly

4. Filled with nutty tastes without being weighty

But Tuscan White Bean Soup is not only a recipe, it is a comforting tradition that makes the flavors of Italy come to your kitchen with the least effort. It can be served as either a main or a starter, but either way, this soup will become a frequent flyer in your recipe book.

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