This year we decided to have an italian-themed Christmas dinner festino. The menu my Aunt Isabella created was outstanding and we even put together little booklets with the recipes for everyone to take home. One of my favorite courses of the night was the chestnut-infused soup that tasted like Christmas in a bowl.
White bean and Tuscan kale soup with Chestnuts
Ingredients:
3 cans white beans such as cannellini, drained
1/4 pound thinly sliced pancetta, chopped
1 large onion, chopped
3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 (14-ounce) can chopped tomatoes in juice, drained, reserving juice
3 1/2 cups low-sodium chicken broth (28 fluid ounces)
2 cups water
1 piece Parmigiano-Reggiano rind (roughly 3 by 2 by 1/2 inch)
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 1/2 cups bottled peeled cooked whole chestnuts (8 ounces), halved
1/2 pound green kale, stems and center ribs discarded, and leaves torn into bite-size pieces
2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme
Cook pancetta, onion, and garlic in oil in a wide 6- to 8-quart heavy pot over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until browned, about 8 minutes. Add tomatoes with juice, beans, broth, water, cheese rind, salt, and pepper and simmer, uncovered, until beans are tender, 45 minutes to 1 hour. Discard cheese rind and stir in chestnuts.
Transfer 2 cups soup to a blender and purée until smooth, then return to pot. Stir in kale and simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until leaves are tender, 10 to 15 minutes. Stir in thyme.
{ Antipasti plate with lemon eggs, bruscetta, grilled asparagus, and italian salami }
{ Aunt Malinda’s Christmas cookies }
This looks SO Yummy!!!!
I still can NOT figure how you manage to stay so slim. This time of year I put on 5-10 POUNDS and I am already to chunky for my body type and weight, but I got a membership to the NYSC for 2012 so I can become slimmer!!!!! Yay!
Wow, omg yummy! The soup and the antipasti plate are right up my street, making me so hungry! The menus are a cute touch too!
I love the idea of having a menu at a family dinner (festino). Brilliant!