Garbanzo Soup with Ham and Broad Beans

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons butter
• 1/2 cup onions, finely chopped
• 1/2 cup carrots, finely chopped
• 1/4 cup celery, finely chopped
• 6 cups stock, consisting of 1 cup ham braising liquid, if available, plus canned or fresh chicken stock or all chicken stock
• Ham bone, optional
• A bouquet consisting 6 sprigs parsley and 1 small bay leaf, tied together with string
• 1 pound, 4-ounce can garbanzos (chickpeas), drained of all their liquid and washed in cold water
• 1 to 1 1/2 cups cooked ham, cut into small cubes
• 1 package frozen broad beans or string beans, defrosted
• 2 medium boiling potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1 tablespoon parsley leaves, finely chopped

Directions

Over moderate heat, melt the 3 tablespoons of butter in a heavy 3 or 4-quart soup pot. When the foam subsides, add the chopped onions, carrots and celery and cook, stirring almost constantly, until the vegetables are wilted but not brown. Pour in the stock, add the optional ham bone and the bouquet, and bring to a boil. Then lower the heat and, with the pot half covered, simmer slowly for about 1/2 hour.

Add the chickpeas, the ham, the broad beans (or string beans), and the cubed potatoes and continue to simmer until the potatoes are tender. Remove the ham bone. Season the soup with salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste, and serve sprinkled with chopped parsley in large, deep soup plates.