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1995-09-27
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Newsgroups: rec.food.recipes
From: plgold@ix.netcom.com (Pat Gold)
Subject: Tuscan Bread Soup
Message-ID: <199506170004.RAA22504@ix6.ix.netcom.com>
Organization: University of Chicago -- Academic Information Technologies
Date: Mon, 19 Jun 1995 15:11:57 GMT
Tuscan-Style Minestrone
Makes 12 Servings
Traditionally this soup is ladled into a soup tureen with alternating
layers of stale bread just before serving. The result is a soup so
thick that a spoon will stick straight up when plunged in. Most
minestrone are made with water .... preferably the cooking water from
the beans.... but chicken stock is great to use if you have any
around.
Ingredients:
3 quarts water
1/2 head of cabbage, preferably Savoy
1 large red onion, chopped
1 celery rib, chopped
4 garlic cloves, peeled
1 large carrot, sliced
1/4 cup olive oil
1/2 bunch kale, stems removed and leaves cut into strips, about 3 cups
tightly packed
1 large waxy potato, peeled and cut into one half inch cubes
6 cups chicken broth, bean-cooking water, or fresh water
4 medium-size tomatoes, peeled, seeded, and chopped, or 1 cup drained
and seeded canned tomatoes
1 bouquet garni: 1 fresh rosemary sprig, 8 fresh thyme sprigs, and 1
bunch of parsley
1 cup dried cannellini or borlotti beans, soaked and cooked, about 3
cups
1 bunch spinach, stems removed and leaves cut into strips if large,
about 1 cup packed
Salt and pepper
Slices of French bread, either stale or lightly toasted
Grated Parmesan cheese
Bring the water to a rolling boil. Cut the cabbage into quarters
through the core. Cut the core out of two of the quarters and slice
them as thinly as possible. Boil the sliced cabbage for 5 minutes and
drain it in a colander. Rinse it with cold water. (This preliminary
cooking eliminates some of the strong taste and prevents it from
taking over the flavor of the soup.)
In a 4-quart pot, cook the onion, celery, garlic, and carrot in the
olive oil over medium heat until softened, about 10 minutes. Add the
blanched cabbage, kale, potato, broth, tomatoes, and bouquet garni.
Bring the soup to a gentle simmer and cook for 10 to 15 minutes, until
the potatoes are soft.
Strain half the cooked beans through a food mill with the finest disk
or puree them in a blender or food processor. Add the puree and the
whole beans to the simmering soup.
Simmer the soup for about 5 minutes more .....reach in with a spoon and
taste a few of the vegetables; make sure the cabbage and kale are
completely soft.
Add spinach. Simmer soup for 1 minute more. Add salt and pepper to
taste.
The soup can now be ladled into hot bowls, but if you want to present
it in the traditional (and make it suitable for a next-day ribolita or
casserole), layer it in a tureen with the bread slices alternating a
ladle of soup with a slice of bread and let it sit for 10 minutes
before serving. Pass the cheese at the table.
Suggestions and variations: If you make the thick layered-bread version
of this soup, it is delicious the next day served as a casserole with
a light salad. Spread the cold congealed soup in a porcelain or glass
casserole; sprinkle it with grated Parmesan cheese and some olive oil.
Bake the casserole at 350 degrees for 20 to 30 minutes.