Venetians prize a soup made thick by using mashed beans. This recipe is based on the preparations at Venice’s Fiaschetteria Toscana and Osteria alla Bomba. A tablespoon of salt may sound like a lot, but it is needed to bring out the beans’ flavor. From Gourmet Magazine, 2000.
Ingredients
Nutrients
Calories 336.2
Calories from Fat 46 g
Total Fat 5.2 g
Saturated Fat 0.8 g
Cholesterol 0 mg
Sodium 724.5 mg
Total Carbohydrate 57.2 g
Dietary Fiber 16.9 g
Sugars 2.6 g
Protein 17 g
Step by step method
Step 1
Combine beans and water in an 8-quart heavy pot and soak, covered, 12 hours.
Step 2
Add vegetables and 1 tablespoon rosemary to pot and simmer, covered, until beans are tender, about 2 hours.
Step 3
Using a slotted spoon, set aside 1 heaping cup bean mixture, then reserve 2 cups cooking liquid separately.
Step 4
Force remaining soup through a food mill into a very large bowl.
Step 5
Cook pancetta in cleaned pot over moderate heat, stirring, until it begins to render its fat.
Step 6
Add remaining rosemary and cook, stirring, 15 seconds.
Step 7
Stir in puréed soup, reserved whole beans, salt, and pepper and bring to a simmer, stirring frequently and scraping bottom with a wooden spatula to keep soup from sticking to pot (thin with some of reserved bean liquid if necessary).
Step 8
Add pasta and simmer, stirring frequently, until pasta is cooked, about 12 minutes.
Step 9
Serve soup drizzled with olive oil.
Tips & variations
This soup is best the day after it's made. Cool it uncovered, before chilling, covered, up to 4 days.
You can use a blender or food processor instead of a food mill to purée the soup, but pulse briefly. This soup should be textured and thick.