Traditional Zuppa Toscana with farro and beans

Traditional Zuppa Toscana with farro and beans, a hearty, healthy comforting winter recipe that is guaranteed to warm your heart. Lovely kale combined with cannellini beans in a wonderful vegetable both, with hints of tomato, garlic, and some spice. Straight from the region of Tuscany, Italy, to your kitchen.

Song of the day: "Due Vite" by Marco Mengoni

[This post is sponsored by Ontario Bean Growers. We’ve been compensated but -as always- all opinions are our own.]

Memories of winter and growing up

My parents loved gardening and their garden was always plentiful, and gave us tons of vegetables for the winter season. My father loved his soups, especially one like this Traditional Zuppa Toscana with farro and beans. I can still see the fulfillment in his eyes as he would taste the soup. Furthermore, he was not the only one feeling that comfort, we all did also, nothing like a foodie hug for sure. Talk about pure soul food, and a beautiful memory of my childhood.

Why you would want to make this Traditional Zuppa Toscana with farro and beans

During the winter months it is always nice to make these heartwarming dishes. They make you feel loved, cared for. However, there are many other reasons why this soup is great:

• Easy to make, takes little time
• Very economical for feeding a family
• It is super healthy
• Uses seasonal ingredients
• Very tasty

Here are the ingredients for this wonderful Italian soup

Really the ingredients list is not that extensive, here is your shopping list:

• Carrots
• Celery
• Onion
• Garlic
• Evo oil
• Red chili flakes
• Cannellini beans
• Tuscan kale
• Tomato passata
• Farro
• Salt and pepper

Kitchen equipment for this Traditional Zuppa Toscana with farro and beans

This recipe is one of those one pot wonders, not a lot needed for equipment to put this together. Here is what you will need:

• Cast iron large soup pot or any soup pot you may have
• Ramekins and small bowls to put ingredients in
• Food processor
• A good chopping knife
• Wooden spoon
• Vegetable strainer for washing and prepping the kale.
• Tasting spoon
• Vegetable peeler

Prepping makes the work so much easier

I am one of those organized cooks. I like to have all my ingredients ready so when it is time to cook, I can put all my attention and love into making this lovely Traditional Zuppa Toscana with farro and beans. Not to say that I don't put love into the prep, I absolutely do. It is a very important ingredient. This is my way of prepping:

• First of all I peel and wash all the veggies.
• As far as the kale, remove the stems and any spoiled areas on the kale. I place it into a salad strainer, wash it really well, and let it drain. You can spin it in the salad spinner too.
• Then, I roughly chop the kale, and place it into a bowl.
• Next, I chop up the carrot, onion, and celery, then place it into a food processor and blitz it until it is finely minced.
• Lastly, I open the can of cannellini, pour them into a colander, and give them a good rinse with cold water and let them drain.

Hear is how easy it is to make Traditional Zuppa Toscana with farro and beans

In less than an hour you will be sitting down to a lovely healthy, hearty meal. This is how it is done:

• Firstly, drizzle olive oil into your soup pot. Add in the garlic and chili flakes, add give it a swish.
• Secondly, add in the mirepoix that you blitzed in the food processor. Turn heat to a medium setting and season with salt and pepper. Stir, and let that sauté for 2 minutes.

• Thirdly, add farro, kale, and after the tomato passata. Give it a good stir.
• Finally, pour in the vegetable broth, stir, cover, and let simmer on low heat for 20 minutes.

Time for the cannellini beans

This is the last step of this wonderful Zuppa Toscana with farro and beans:

• Uncover the soup then toss in the beans that have bean washed and drained. Stir gently into the soup, then cover again, keeping heat on low, and simmer for another 15 minutes.
• Taste for seasoning, and adjust as needed with salt and pepper.

Time to serve up our Traditional Zuppa Toscana with farro and beans

Looking at this wonderful soup makes me think my father is looking over my shoulder and saying Bravo! Almost brings a tear to my eye, however, can't have that going into the soup. Instead, a nice smile. Let's finish this dish:

• Ladle soup into bowls, finish with a drizzle of extra virgin cold pressed olive oil.
• Garnish with some freshly chopped flat leaf parsley.
• Ready to serve.

Time to taste

Well, I am pretty proud of this soup we made together. It looks so hearty, and healthy. I love the deep winter colors, and that broth slightly tinted with the tomato passata. Grab your spoon, let's have a taste.

Mmmmmmm, so so good. The broth subtle, yet rich with the sweetness of the tomato mingling nicely with the veggies and broth. I love the farro, nutty, holding a nice texture giving us a nice bite. The kale is earthy, sweet, and so succulent, it just explodes in your mouth. Lastly, those cannellini beans have that soulfulness and sweetness, really adding another dimension to this incredible Traditional Zuppa Toscana with farro and beans. I am definitely feeling the love here, are you?

I just want to say thank you for stopping in and making this recipe with us. We truly enjoy cooking with everyone! Sit back, and really enjoy the work you have done. Let that soup just warm your soul.

Buon Appetito!

Enjoy!

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