Tuscan White Bean and Garlic Soup

One night last week, I was coming in late from my daughter's soccer game, and hadn't planned anything for dinner. I grabbed a couple of cookbooks to look at recipes I had marked as promising, but had never tried. It was a chilly night, and Tuscan White Bean and Garlic Soup sounded good. The recipe is from Giada DeLaurentiis' Everday Pasta.

I had everything I needed in the pantry except sage. I used rosemary instead. The recipe was easy, and took practically no time at all. And it was delicious! I'll definitely make this again soon.

Tuscan White Bean and Garlic Soup

2 tablespoons unsalted butter

1 tablespoon olive oil

2 shallots, chopped

1 fresh sage leaf (I used rosemary instead)

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

4 cups reduced sodium chicken broth

4 garlic cloves, halved

1/2 cup heavy cream

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Place a medium, heavy soup pot over medium heat. Add the butter, olive oil, and shallots and cook, stirring occasionally, until the shallots are softened, about 5 minutes. Add the sage and beans and stir to combine. Add the broth and bring the mixture to a simmer. Add the garlic and simmer until the garlic is softened, about 10 minutes. Pour the soup into a large bowl. Carefully ladle one-third to one-half of the soup into a blender and puree until smooth. Be careful to hold the top of the blender tightly, as hot liquids expand when they are blended. Pour the blended soup back into the soup pot. Puree the remaining soup. Once all the soup is blended and back in the soup pot, add the cream and the pepper. Cover and keep warm over low heat.

We paired it with some small Genoa salami sandwiches. Make them on thinly sliced, lightly toasted Italian country bread, with roasted red peppers and balsamic vinegar.

It would also be fabulous with tomato bruschetta. I make mine on the same toasted slices of Italian country bread. Rub the toasted bread with cut garlic. Top with chopped summer tomatoes and a bit of diced red onion. Drizzle with extra virgin olive oil, and add a chiffonade of fresh basil. Don't forget the salt and freshly ground pepper.

I would actually have preferred the bruschetta to the salami, but even though real men like pink, they infinitely prefer meat!

Mangia!