Chickpea Soup: Minestra se Ceci

Ingredients

• 4 1/2 cups chickpeas
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper to
• 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling
• 2 Spanish onions
• 2 cloves garlic, sliced thin, plus 1 clove
• 2 ripe tomatoes, peeled, seeded, and chopped
• 12 (1-inch thick) slices Italian peasant bread
• 1 can anchovies in salt, deboned and rinsed
• 1/4 cup chopped parsley leaves

Directions

Place the chickpeas in a heavy-bottomed pot and just cover with cold water. Add the baking soda and cover. Leave the chickpeas to soak overnight. When they are ready to be used, transfer the chickpeas and the soaking water to a large saucepan. Salt, to taste, and cook over a medium flame until tender. Cut the onion in 1/2 through the root and slice them into half moons, each 1/8-inch thick. In a second large saucepan, heat the 1/4 cup of olive oil over medium heat. Add the onions and cook until soft and golden brown. Add the garlic, tomatoes, chili flakes, and salt and pepper, to taste. Add the chickpeas and water and leave to simmer until the flavors have melded, for at least 30 minutes and up to 60 minutes. Before serving, chop the anchovies and add the parsley. Toast the bread slices, rub surface with the remaining garlic clove and spread on the anchovy paste. Drizzle them with olive oil and serve with the soup.