Recipe: Tuscan Kale Soup

Tuscan Kale Soup

Serves: 6

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 2 medium carrots, diced
• 2 medium celery stalks, diced
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1–1½ pounds Tuscan or Lacinato kale, stems removed and leaves roughly chopped
• 4-5 cups (low sodium) vegetable broth, plus more as needed
• 2 (14-ounce) cans Cannellini or other white beans like Navy or Great Northern, drained and rinsed
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme (or 2 tablespoons fresh)
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• Pinch red pepper flakes (optional)
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Coat the bottom of a large pot with the oil and place it over medium heat.
2. Add the onion, carrot and celery. Sauté the veggies on medium heat for about 5 minutes, stirring frequently, until they begin to soften.
3. Stir in the garlic and cook it with the veggies for about a minute, until it becomes very fragrant.
4. Stir in the broth, beans, thyme and red pepper flakes.
5. Raise the heat and bring the broth to a boil, then lower the heat and allow the soup to simmer for about 20 minutes, until the vegetables are soft. Remove the pot from heat.
6. Blend about half of the soup (depending on how thick you like it) either using an immersion blender or by transferring it to a blender or food processor in batches. Use caution when blending hot liquids.
7. Return the soup to the burner and begin stirring in the kale, adding it in batches if needed, stirring each addition in until it wilts, and another batch can be added.
8. Bring the soup back up to a simmer and let it cook for about 10 minutes, until the kale is tender, stirring occasionally.
9. Remove the soup from heat and stir in the lemon juice. Season the soup with salt and pepper to taste. Ladle into bowls and serve.

Nutrition Facts per Serving: