Tuscan White Bean Soup (Printable)

A hearty Tuscan white bean soup with tender kale and a rich Parmesan finish.

# Components:

→ Vegetables

01 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
02 - 1 medium yellow onion, diced
03 - 2 medium carrots, diced
04 - 2 celery stalks, diced
05 - 3 garlic cloves, minced
06 - 1 bunch kale, stems removed and leaves chopped (about 4 cups packed)
07 - 1 can (14 oz) diced tomatoes, drained

→ Beans

08 - 2 cans (14 oz each) cannellini beans, drained and rinsed

→ Liquids

09 - 4 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
10 - 1 cup water

→ Seasonings

11 - 1 teaspoon dried thyme
12 - 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
13 - 1 bay leaf
14 - 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, optional
15 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

→ Garnish

16 - 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
17 - Extra virgin olive oil for drizzling
18 - Fresh parsley, chopped, optional

# Method:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add diced onion, carrots, and celery, sautéing for 5 to 6 minutes until softened and translucent.
02 - Stir in minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant, being careful not to burn.
03 - Add chopped kale to the pot and sauté for 2 to 3 minutes until slightly wilted.
04 - Mix in diced tomatoes, cannellini beans, vegetable broth, water, thyme, rosemary, bay leaf, and red pepper flakes if using.
05 - Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 25 minutes, stirring occasionally.
06 - Remove bay leaf. For a creamier consistency, use a potato masher to mash some of the beans directly in the pot.
07 - Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper to taste.
08 - Ladle soup into bowls. Top each serving with grated Parmesan cheese, a drizzle of olive oil, and fresh parsley if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It comes together in under an hour but tastes like you've been simmering it all day.
  • The kale softens into something almost sweet while the beans add a creamy richness without any cream.
  • One pot means minimal cleanup, maximum comfort on nights when you need something warm and honest.
02 -
  • If you skip rinsing the canned beans, your soup will taste salty and cloudy no matter how good everything else is.
  • Mashing just some of the beans is the secret to creaminess without needing cream, and it's a lesson that applies to so much cooking.
  • The final taste happens in the bowl with Parmesan and olive oil, these aren't garnishes, they're essential parts of the dish.
03 -
  • Don't skip the step of draining the canned tomatoes, excess liquid is the enemy of a properly balanced soup.
  • If you want a dairy-free version, a good quality nutritional yeast or plant-based Parmesan works surprisingly well for that finishing richness.
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