Ingredients
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1 cup dried white bean, rinsed and picked over (such as Great Northern or cannellini)
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1/4 cup olive oil
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2 medium carrots, peeled and diced
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1/2 cup diced fennel or 1/2 cup diced celery
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4 garlic cloves, minced
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2 bay leaves
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8 cups chicken stock
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8 ounces bow tie pasta
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1/2 cup fine diced sun-dried tomato (use the dry ones and reconstitute them in some hot water for 10 minutes before chopping)
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1/4 cup finely diced fresh parsley
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freshly grated parmesan cheese
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3/4 teaspoon dried red pepper flakes
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2 cups finely diced yellow onions
Instructions
- Soak beans overnight in enough water to cover by 3 inches.
- Heat oil in a large heavy soup pot over medium heat.
- Add onions, carrots, fennel, garlic, pepper flakes and bay leaves.
- Cover and cook until onions are tender, stirring occasionally, about 10 minutes.
- Add beans and 7 cups stock.
- Increase heat and bring to boil.
- Reduce heat, cover partially and simmer until beans are tender, about 1 hour, 15 minutes.
- (Can be made one day ahead and cover and refrigerate at this point).
- Bring to a simmer before continuing.
- Add pasta and tomatoes to soup.
- Cover partially and simmer until beans and pasta are very tender, adding up to 1 cup stock if too thick, about 15 minutes.
- Add parsley.
- Taste and adjust seasonings with salt.
- Discard bay leaves.
- Ladle soup into bowls.
- Serve, passing cheese seperately.