White Bean Summer Soup

This soup was super easy and fast to make, not to mention very light, flavorful, and fresh!  A perfect soup for summer. I even ate it after it got cold because I took too long trying to take a picture, and it was still slurptastic. 

The original recipe called this Green Minestrone, but I am not too sure what makes it a minestrone. Also, I was pretty set on eliminating the pasta entirely and wanted either potatoes (would be delicious) or white beans (was voted in by my mister) instead, so a renaming seemed appropriate.

White Bean Summer Soup
Slightly adapted from Bon Appetit

• 6 tablespoons olive oil, divided
• 1 leek, white and pale-green parts only, chopped into half moons
• ½ small fennel bulb, finely chopped
• ½ small yellow onion, finely chopped
• 2 celery stalks, thinly sliced
• 4 cups vegetable or chicken broth (I used home made stock)
• 2 small carrots, peeled, thinly sliced into rounds
• 1 cup peas (fresh or frozen)
• salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 2 cans white beans (Cannelini or Great Northern)
• 1½ cups (lightly packed) fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves
• ½ shallot, roughly chopped
• ¼ small red onion, thinly sliced
• Shaved Parmesan (for serving)

Heat 2 Tbsp. oil in a large heavy pot over medium heat. Toss in the leek, fennel, yellow onion, and celery, stirring occasionally, until softened but not taking on any color, about 5 minutes. 

 

Add broth and bring to a boil.  Reduce heat and simmer until vegetables are just tender, 10-15 minutes.

 

Add carrots, peas, and beans, and simmer until carrots are just tender and peas and beans are warmed through, about 5-10 minutes.  Season with salt and pepper.

 

While your soup is simmering, blend parsley, the remaining 4 Tbsp. oil, and the chopped shallot with an immersion blender into a paste.  Season this pesto with salt and pepper. 

 

Serve soup topped with a scoop of pesto, sliced red onions, and shaved parmesan.  Don't forget a good loaf of bread for dunking!

One more note: 

When I put away the leftovers, I mixed the rest of the pesto into the soup and when we ate it on the second day, I made parmesan croutons to put into the soup with the leftover bread, which worked wonderfully and would have photographed better than the shaved parm. To make these, dice up your bread, toss it with olive oil and a tiny bit of salt. Spread on a parchment-lined cookie sheet and shred some parmesan on top.  Put into a 425 degree oven for about 10-15 minutes until the cheese is all melty and slightly browned. I almost ate all of the croutons before they had a chance to go into the soup!