This Zuppa di Fagioli-Italian Bean Soup is no-fuss to make, and full of the coziest Italian flavors. Totally gluten-free and it is also freezes perfectly so you’ll have your favorite soup ready whenever you need it!
Good soup is good for the soul. I am not a vegetarian by any means, but every once in a while, my body craves lots of greens. And beans! A good chunk of Italian bread. Maybe having that bread smothered with olive oil, garlic, and two cheeses. That also will alleviate my craving! A gorgeous chunk of organic kale. That could really excite me!
Zuppa di Fagioli-Italian Bean Soup
I like my cakes, don’t get me wrong. It can seem like all we eat is cakes here at the Duchess cucina. Our lives our centered around food. Not just sweets. We eat some pretty good meals at home. Simple foods that are not processed. I try to cook for my kids the way my parents cooked for me and my in-laws cooked for my husband.
My children are picky eaters. At their young age, they can distinguish between a good sauce and a not so good sauce. If we are somewhere and there is a not so good sauce, they wrinkle their noses and say very quietly, “Mommy, that is schiffo (disgusting).” I am not endorsing those kind of comments. As long as they don’t offend anyone, they have a right to their opinion. Quietly, of course. One of the benefits of raising them on good food is that they don’t ask too often for junk food.
When someone is treating me not so nicely, I have learned to take a moment and ask myself, “What is really bothering this person?” Do I have to react? Is it worth it? Could it really be me that is annoying the heck out of them? Maybe this person just lost their job or a loved one. Maybe they had a not so pleasant call from the doctor’s office. Could it be they suffered recently a broken heart?
*I make my bean soups with fresh beans and canned beans. This recipe is with canned beans.
Zuppa di Fagioli-Italian Bean Soup with Cheesy Crostini
Ingredients
- SOUP
- 5 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil plus more for drizzling
- 3 garlic smashed
- 1 small onion chopped
- 4 carrots peeled and chopped
- 3 celery stalks chopped
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes or more to taste
- 1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh rosemary
- 1 can chopped tomatoes I used 14 1/2 oz organic diced tomatoes
- 2 15 oz. cans cannelini beans rinsed and drained
- 2 15 oz. cans red kidney beans rinsed and drained
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 piece Parmeggiano Reggiano rind
- salt to taste
- 1 tablespoon vegetable base I use Better than Bouillon
- 1/2 cup grated Parmigiano Reggiano
- 1 bunch kale stems and ribs discarded leaves chopped
- if you are adding pasta 2 cups shell or ditalini pasta
- Freshly ground pepper
- CROSTINI
- 1 loaf of Italian or French bread
- 3 cloves chopped garlic
- 6 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/2 cup grated Parmigiano Reggiano cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Gouda Asiago or mozzarella is also fine
Instructions
- SOUP
- Heat 3 tablespoons olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the garlic, onion, carrots, celery, red pepper flakes, and cook 2 minutes. Stir in the tomatoes and cook 2 more minutes; season with salt. Add 3 quarts water, the bay leaves and Parmigiano Reggiano rind. If you don't have the cheese rind, the soup will still turn out fine! Don't sweat it! Cover and bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer for about 45 minutes with pot slightly covered.
- Uncover the pot and raise the heat to medium. Add the beans and let it simmer for about 15 minutes. If you are adding pasta to the soup, add it now with the kale. If you are not adding pasta, just add the kale and cook stirring occasionally until the leaves are tender (about 7-10 minutes)
- Remove the bay leaves and the cheese rind. Serve the soup in the bowls and add the grated Parmigiano Reggiano and a drizzle of olive oil. Salt and pepper to taste.
- FOR THE CROSTINI
- Slice the loaf in half and then slice it crosswise. Drizzle the bread with olive oil and some chopped garlic. I didn’t really measure the olive oil. You don’t want the bread drenched, just a nice coating of olive oil. Sprinkle the 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese and 1/2 cup shredded Gouda. Broil on top rack of oven for about 3-5 minutes. Keep a CLOSE eye on it because it will be ready really quickly.
What a beautiful post … eat, drink, and be merry with the people you love ! Wonderfully satisfying soup and bread!
Just returned from an Italian holiday and we were looking for a recipe for this! Saved and will be made soon!
Many bloggers who live in the northern hemisphere are posting heartwarming soup recipes now because of the change in weather. But I who live in the tropics would want to try out this bean soup of yours too because it truly looks lovely! Glad you're teaching your kids about good food from an early age, they will be amazing gourmands when they grow up!
I just made this soup last night for dinner! I love how you use kale in your recipe. It makes it look prettier and is healthier. Thanks for sharing and I'll definitely have to use kale next time!
i have this recipe bookmarked:)thank you for sharing this. it looks so yummy!
I love Zuppa di Fagioli! I love your attitude towards life and really enjoyed this post with it's look at how you see things! Thank you for the recipe!
OMG Lora – my mother's family is from Calabria!! How weird is that? Yours is the first Italian family I've come across from Calabria – most know the region but none have come from there – wow! Isn't kale the best thing ever in soup? Parm, bread – heaven. (((hugs)))
Funny, just reading your post and then the comment above, my dad's family is from Calabria, Coscenza to be precise. Small world. I laughed when you said your kids say schiffo:)
Your soup and bread sounds amazing. Definitely something to warm the body and soul.
I love your outlook on life. I love people watching too. I could sit on a bench in a public place for hours and just watch people.
We take a lot of pride in teach ing kiddos about food too. I figure its a gift they will appreciate their whole lives. I KNOW my two would love this!
This post reminded me of why I love you and your blog so much. You are such an amazing wife and mother…and I know your kids already have fabulous taste. Quality over quantity is such an important lesson for us to learn in this culture. It is wonderful that you are giving your children the opportunity to taste and see and experience the really good stuff. And I am a people watcher too. There is nothing better than sitting outside for an afternoon. I try to imagine these different lives, and I leave with a deeper understanding for those around me. Thanks for sharing sweet heart. And oh yes…the soup looks great!
This has got to be one of my favorite soups ever. I will have to add this version to the list to try this winter. 🙂
I'm a people watcher too and thanks to me so is my husband. In our old apartment we hade huge glass panes thatoverlooked the main street of Nantes and we'd spend hours watching people and wonder what their life was like.
This is a fabulous soup, perfect, warming comfort food and those crostini jazz it up so! Beautiful recipe and one I will try!
Your blog about Italian bean soup is really awesome. I love this recipe very much.I will definitely try this recipe. I like Italian culture, tradition, italian food etc . Last summer I have visited Italy as well as I have visited Italian restaurant. I have enjoyed Italian food very much.
[…] nights. Some other soups we love is this kale and chickpea soup (so hearty!). And also this zuppa di fagioli (Italian bean soup) is delightful on cooler fall […]