Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 ounces pancetta or prosciutto cut into 1/4-inch cubes
- 1/2 cup diced onion
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon minced rosemary or thyme
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 head escarole, (about 1 pound) trimmed, washed, and coarsely chopped
- Two 15 ounce cans cannellini beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 cup peeled, seeded, and chopped vine-ripened tomato or chopped canned plum tomato
- 5 cups chicken broth, homemade or low-sodium canned
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt plus more
- Freshly ground black pepper
Serving suggestions:
- Drizzle each serving with extra-virgin olive oil and/or sprinkle with freshly grated Parmesan and serve with a good crusty bread.
Directions
In a soup pot, heat the oil over medium heat, add the pancetta, and saute for about 5 minutes. Remove meat with a slotted spoon and set aside. Add the onion and saute until golden, about 10 minutes. Add the garlic, rosemary, and pepper flakes; saute for 3 minutes more. Add the escarole, stirring for 2 minutes more. Add the beans, tomato, broth, and salt to taste; bring to a boil. Lower the heat to maintain a gentle simmer, cover, and cook for 10 to 15 minutes. Stir in the reserved pancetta and season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve with the oil and/or cheese and the crusty bread.
Cook's note: Swiss chard is a welcome substitute for the escarole.
- Copyright 2001 Television Food Network, G.P. All rights reserved.















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By iwantadrinkhous...
parlin, NJ
on February 10, 2011
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I usually make a recipe twice before I give a negative review. I thought this was pretty bland. The second time I made it I added sweet sausage instead of pancetta. It helped with the flavor, but not much. Way too boring for my liking.
By carolusop_11648703
New York, NY
on August 12, 2009
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REally great flavors, hearty, and easy to make. I like the addition of the tomatoes. Needs some tweaking though: I like it a little more beany, so I would add another can of beans. Also, I would puree a couple of ladle-fulls just to thicken it up.
By heididanna_7521073
Ferndale, MI
on July 09, 2009
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i love bean and escarole soups, and usually they are not tomatoe based. this one is really delicious.
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