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Bean Soup {Tuscan Style}
5 from 45 votes

Bean Soup {Tuscan Style}

Bean Soup {Tuscan Style} melds cannellini beans, fresh spinach, and a mix of aromatic vegetables in a seasoned chicken broth enriched with Parmesan. The soup is creamy and hearty due to lightly mashed beans, with a balance of herbal Italian seasoning and the depth from a Parmesan rind infusion. It's a comforting meal blending rustic flavors and wholesome ingredients.

Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
25 mins
Total Time
35 mins
Servings: 4
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian

Ingredients

  • 3 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil divided
  • 1 cup chopped yellow onion (1 small)
  • 3/4 cup chopped carrot (1 large)
  • 1/2 cup diced celery (2 small ribs, slice somewhat thin)
  • 5 garlic minced (nearly 2 Tbsp, cloves
  • 2 (14.5 oz) cans chicken broth low-sodium
  • 1 1/2 tsp Italian seasoning
  • 1 small Parmesan rind plus about 6 Tbsp shredded parmesan for serving
  • salt to taste, freshly ground
  • black pepper to taste, freshly ground
  • 2 (14.5 oz) cans cannellini beans or great northern beans, drained and rinsed
  • 2 cups (packed) fresh spinach, roughly chopped

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Heat 1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil in a pot over medium heat. Add onion, carrot, celery and saute 4 minutes.
  2. Add garlic and saute 1 minute longer.
  3. Pour in chicken broth, Italian seasoning and add parmesan rind. Season with pepper and lightly with salt to taste (wait until the end to add more salt, the rind will infuse some salt to the soup).
  4. Cover soup with lid, bring soup to a light boil, then reduce heat to medium-low and let simmer until veggies are tender, about 12 - 15 minutes.
  5. Add beans and spinach, let heat just until spinach wilts, about 30 seconds.
  6. Remove from heat. Mash up about half the beans with a potato masher (this helps make the brother creamier and heartier).
  7. Remove parmesan rind. Drizzle individual servings of soup with remaining 2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil (or more to taste) and top with parmesan.

Notes

  • Reduce garlic cloves if a milder flavor is preferred, replacing them with extra herbs if desired.
  • Use unsalted chicken broth and low-sodium beans to control overall saltiness.
  • Fresh herbs like basil, parsley, or oregano can be added to increase flavor brightness before serving.
  • A spritz of lemon juice at the end enhances freshness and contrasts the soup’s richness.