Chef John's Tuscan Bean Soup

Since fall and winter are full of shorter, darker days, we're going to need some coping strategies, and this hearty Tuscan bean soup is one of the more effective. There's just something about that combo of smooth, silky soup, and crunchy, crispy croutons that makes everything seem okay.

• Preparation Time: 15 mins
• Cooking Time: 30 mins
• Total Time: 45 mins
• Calories: 432 Calories

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon butter
• salt to taste
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• ½ lemon, juiced
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 onion, diced
• 1 stalk celery, diced
• 4 cups chicken broth
• 1 carrot, diced
• 3 cloves garlic
• ½ teaspoon chopped fresh rosemary
• freshly ground black pepper to taste
• ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper, or to taste
• 2 (15 ounce) cans white kidney beans (cannellini), rinsed and drained
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
• 2 tablespoons freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, or to taste
• ⅓ cup creme fraiche
• ½ teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
• 1 ½ cups fresh bread cubes

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Heat olive oil over medium-high heat in a large pot. Add butter; allow butter to melt. Add onion, celery, and carrot, and cook and stir until onion begins to turn translucent and golden, about 7 minutes. Stir in garlic; cook 1 more minute. Add beans and broth. Season with salt, pepper, rosemary, thyme, and cayenne pepper. Set heat to medium-high and bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to low and let simmer until vegetables are tender, about 30 minutes.

Step 2

Place bread cubes in a saute pan. Drizzle with olive oil; season with a pinch of salt and pepper. Toast bread cubes over medium heat until golden brown and crunchy, tossing occasionally, about 10 minutes. Sprinkle grated cheese over the bread cubes and continue to brown cubes about 2 more minutes.

Step 3

Puree soup with an immersion blender until it is very smooth. Whisk in creme fraiche. Stir in lemon juice. Serve topped with browned bread cubes and chopped parsley.