Tuscan Bread and Vegetable Soup

Ribollita ("re-boiled" in Italian) generally refers to leftover hearty vegetable soup with stale bread added during reheating. In our version of this classic Italian soup, we combine fennel, carrots, green beans and kale with hearty cannelini beans, chicken and sourdough bread for a robust and satisfying meal.

Ingredients

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 yellow onion, chopped
1 fennel bulb, chopped
4 carrots, chopped
3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 (28-ounce) can fire-roasted crushed tomatoes, with their liquid
8 boneless chicken thighs
1 dried bay leaf
5 cups low-sodium chicken broth, divided
1 sprig parsley
2 (15-ounce) cans cannelini beans, drained
Salt and pepper to taste
6 cups chopped kale or baby spinach
2 cups roughly chopped green beans
1 cup 1/2-inch cubes day-old sourdough or country bread
Grated Parmesan cheese

Directions

In a 6-quart Dutch oven heat oil over medium high heat. Add onions and fennel and cook, stirring from time to time, until fragrant and translucent, about 4 minutes. Add carrots and cook for another 2 minutes, then add garlic and cook for 1 minute more, or until fragrant. Add tomatoes with their liquid and let cook for 10 minutes, stirring from time to time. Add chicken, bay leaf, 4 cups of the broth and parsley and increase heat to high. Bring to a simmer, then reduce heat to low and cook for another 20 minutes.

Put 1 can of beans and remaining 1 cup broth into a blender and purée. Uncover pot and season with salt and pepper, bearing in mind that there will be some Parmesan cheese added at the end, so salt should be used lightly. Add bean purée, remaining can of beans, and kale and stir. Cook for another 3 minutes, then add green beans. Cook for about 3 more minutes, then add bread and stir. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes more.

If the soup is deemed too thick, add a cup of water, bring back to a simmer, taste and reseason with salt and pepper. Serve soup ladled into bowls and topped with Parmesan cheese and an extra drizzling of olive oil, if you like.