White Bean and Kale Soup
 
Makes 10 cups
Ingredients
  • 1 pound dried Camellia Brand Cannellini Beans
  • 8 cups vegetable broth
  • 2 cups sliced carrots (about 4 medium carrots)
  • 1 large yellow onion, chopped
  • 1 cup chopped celery
  • 2 tablespoons chopped garlic
  • 2 dried bay leaves
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground black pepper, plus more to taste
  • ¾ teaspoon crushed red pepper, plus more to taste
  • ½ teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
  • 4 cups finely chopped curly kale
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • ½ cup shaved Parmesan cheese
Instructions
  1. Rinse and sort beans. In a large stockpot, combine beans and water to cover; let stand for 8 hours or overnight.
  2. Drain and rinse beans. Add to a 6-quart slow cooker. Add broth, carrots, onion, celery, garlic, bay leaves, salt, black pepper, red pepper, and Italian seasoning. Cover and cook on high until beans are tender, 6 to 8 hours. (If you want a creamier soup, using the back of a wooden spoon, slightly mash half of beans against the side of slow cooker.)
  3. Stir kale into beans mixture; cover and cook on high until kale is tender, 10 to 15 minutes. Stir in lemon juice. Season servings to taste with black pepper and red pepper, and top with Parmesan. Serve with bread.
Notes
KITCHEN TIP
Add leftover ham or smoked sausage along with the kale for an even heartier soup.
Recipe by Taste of the South at https://tasteofthesouthmagazine.com/white-bean-and-kale-soup/