Tuscan White Bean Soup

Lately I have been on a quest to add more meatless meals to my family's dinners. That coupled with my new immersion blender that I got for christmas made me want to try this recipe from Michael Chiarello. It turned out simply fantastic. I served it with some crusty bread from the bakery and a simple salad of arugula, and grape tomatoes tossed with olive oil and basalmic vinegar.

Tuscan White Bean SoupRecipe
by Michael Chiarello for Progresso® Foods
Prep Time: 55 Min Start to Finish: 55 Min

4 slices bacon, finely chopped
1 medium yellow onion, quartered lengthwise
1 medium stalk celery, quartered crosswise
1 medium carrot, quartered crosswise
2 cloves garlic, lightly crushed
3 cans (19 oz each) Progresso® cannellini beans, drained
1 dried bay leaf
1/2 cup white wine
1 carton (32 oz) Progresso® reduced-sodium chicken broth (4 cups)
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon finely chopped garlic
1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1/4 cup lightly packed fresh basil leaves, sliced
1/2 teaspoon gray sea salt
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

1. In 4-quart saucepan or Dutch oven, cook bacon, onion, celery, carrot and 2 cloves garlic over medium-high heat 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat to medium. Add beans, bay leaf, wine and broth; cover and cook 20 to 25 minutes, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are tender. Remove from heat; cool about 15 minutes.

2. Meanwhile, in 8-inch skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat 1 minute. Add 1 tablespoon chopped garlic; cook 3 to 5 minutes, stirring frequently, until garlic begins to brown. Stir in red pepper flakes; cook a few seconds. Stir in basil; cook until basil wilts.

3. Remove bay leaf from bean mixture. Pour mixture into food processor; cover and puree. Or use an immersion blender right in the pan to puree the soup. Return to saucepan; stir in salt and pepper. Simmer over medium heat 5 to 10 minutes, stirring frequently, until thoroughly heated.

4. Ladle soup into individual soup bowls. Top each with basil mixture.