Country-Style Soup (Minestra Di Campagna) 🍲
Description: Creativity with simple ingredients is one of the themes of Sicilian cooking. There’s no better example than this bean and vegetable soup, which some say evolved from food that fifteenth-century galley cooks made for mariners. This recipe, originating from Bon Appetite in 1997, encapsulates the heartiness and wholesome flavors of traditional Sicilian cuisine.
- Cook Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Prep Time: 24 hours
- Total Time: 25 hours 30 minutes
- Servings: 8
Ingredients:
| Quantity | Ingredient |
|---|---|
| 1/2 | Dried fava beans |
| 1/2 | Dried great northern beans |
| 6 cups | Water |
| 1 | Onion |
| 1 | Carrot |
| 1 | Celery stalk |
| 8 leaves | Savoy cabbage |
| 1 head | Bibb lettuce |
| – | Parmesan cheese (for topping) |
| – | Extra virgin olive oil (for drizzling) |
Nutritional Information (per serving):
- Calories: 91.5
- Fat: 0.4g
- Saturated Fat: 0.1g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
- Sodium: 24.7mg
- Carbohydrates: 17.3g
- Fiber: 6.2g
- Sugar: 2.8g
- Protein: 5.9g
Instructions:
-
Begin by preparing the beans. Place the dried fava beans in a medium saucepan and the dried great northern beans in a large bowl.
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Cover both types of beans with enough cold water, ensuring they are submerged by at least 3 inches, and allow them to soak overnight, which will help soften them for cooking.
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The next day, bring the fava beans to a boil in their soaking liquid. Let them boil for about 5 minutes, then drain the fava beans and allow them to cool slightly.
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Once the fava beans have cooled, use a small sharp knife to make a small slit in the skin of each bean. Peel off the outer skins and discard them. This step may seem tedious but peeling the beans will result in a smoother texture for the soup.
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Drain the soaked great northern beans and set them aside for later use.
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In a large pot, bring 6 cups of water to a boil. Once the water is boiling, add all of the beans (both fava and great northern), along with the onion, carrot, and celery.
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Partially cover the pot and allow the mixture to simmer over medium heat until the beans are halfway cooked, which should take approximately 30 minutes.
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After 30 minutes, add the savoy cabbage and bibb lettuce to the pot. Stir the ingredients well, partially cover the pot again, and continue cooking until the beans are tender. This should take about 1 hour in total, with occasional stirring.
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Once the soup is fully cooked and the beans are tender, season the soup with salt and pepper to taste. Adjust the seasoning according to your preference.
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To serve, ladle the soup into bowls and sprinkle each serving with grated Parmesan cheese for an added depth of flavor. Finish off each bowl with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil for a touch of richness.
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Enjoy this hearty and wholesome country-style soup as a comforting meal, perfect for chilly evenings or anytime you crave a taste of Sicilian tradition.
This recipe captures the essence of Sicilian cooking, where simplicity meets flavor, and each ingredient shines in its own right, creating a dish that’s both satisfying and nourishing.
