White Bean and Kale Soup with Parmesan

This brothy bean soup is a practical lunch because it uses canned cannellini beans and cooks in one pot. Mashing a few beans thickens the broth without blending the whole soup. Add kale near the end so it softens but still keeps its shape.

Serves: 4
Prep: 12 minutes
Cook: 25 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 medium yellow onion, diced
• 2 carrots, diced
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary
• 4 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
• 2 cans (15 ounces each) cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 bay leaf
• 4 cups chopped stemmed kale
• 1/2 teaspoon fine salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1/3 cup finely grated Parmesan, plus more to serve

Method

1. Warm olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and carrots and cook for 6 minutes, stirring occasionally, until beginning to soften.
2. Add garlic and rosemary and stir for 30 seconds. Pour in broth, add beans and bay leaf, and bring to a gentle boil.
3. Lower the heat and simmer uncovered for 12 minutes. Mash about 1/2 cup beans against the side of the pot with a spoon.
4. Stir in kale, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 5 to 7 minutes, until the kale is tender and bright green.
5. Remove the bay leaf. Stir in lemon juice and Parmesan, taste, and adjust seasoning.
6. Ladle into bowls and finish with extra Parmesan and a little olive oil if desired.

Variations

Use Swiss chard or chopped spinach instead of kale, adding spinach during the final 2 minutes. Replace rosemary with dried thyme, or stir in 1/2 cup small pasta and cook until tender, adding broth if needed.

Storage and reheating

Refrigerate cooled soup promptly in a covered container for up to 4 days. Reheat in a saucepan over medium heat until steaming, stirring occasionally; add broth or water if it has thickened. Freeze portions without the Parmesan garnish if you want to keep them longer.

Read the leftover meal planning guide and pantry-first meal planning guide for more ways to plan lunch. Add this recipe to the Lucru Home pantry and list any missing ingredients before shopping.