Description
Hearty white bean soup with bacon brings rustic Italian comfort to your kitchen. Simmered with smoky bacon, herbs, and creamy beans, this soul-warming dish delivers rich flavors you’ll savor with each spoonful.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 cans white kidney beans (540 ml or 19 ounces each)
- 5 cups low sodium chicken broth
- 6 slices bacon (or 4 thick cut), chopped
Vegetables and Aromatics:
- 3 large carrots, peeled and sliced
- 2 ribs celery, sliced
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, finely minced
Seasonings and Finishing Ingredients:
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- 1/4 teaspoon paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 3/4 cup half and half
- 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan
- Fresh chopped parsley or spinach (optional)
Instructions
- Heat a large soup pot over medium flame, preparing the foundation for a rich, aromatic white bean soup.
- Render bacon in the pot until golden and crisp, then remove the pieces while preserving the flavorful drippings.
- Sauté chopped carrots, celery, and onions in the bacon fat until the onions become translucent and develop a light caramelization.
- Introduce minced garlic, thyme, and seasonings, stirring quickly to release their fragrant essence without burning.
- Deglaze the pot with broth, carefully scraping the bottom to incorporate all the delicious browned bits.
- Drain and rinse the white beans, then partially puree a portion with half-and-half to create a creamy thickening base.
- Combine whole beans, reserved bacon pieces, and the creamy bean mixture into the pot, reducing heat and covering to simmer for 25-30 minutes until vegetables become tender.
- Finish the soup by folding in grated Parmesan and chopped fresh herbs, adjusting seasoning to taste before serving hot.
Notes
- Bacon Swap: Use turkey bacon or plant-based bacon alternatives for a lighter, leaner version of the soup that still delivers incredible smoky flavor.
- Bean Boost: Mash some beans directly in the pot to create a thicker, more luxurious texture without needing extra cream or blending steps.
- Dietary Flexibility: Make this soup gluten-free by ensuring your broth and bacon are certified gluten-free, perfect for those with wheat sensitivities.
- Vegetable Variations: Experiment with seasonal vegetables like parsnips or fennel to add unexpected depth and complexity to the soup’s base flavor profile.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch, Appetizer
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 34 g
- Fiber: 8 g
- Protein: 18 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg