Soupe au pistou with 13 vegetables

12 Servings

Ingredients

QuantityIngredient
1cupSmall dried white beans
(Great Northern) -- soaked
Overnight in
Cold Water
1mediumYellow onion -- peeled,
Cut In Half And
Stuck With 2 Cloves
1Bay leaf
4teaspoonsSalt
1tablespoonOlive oil
3mediumsRed onions -- diced
½teaspoonPepper -- freshly ground
3Cloves garlic -- minced
2Leeks -- white and light
Green Parts Only,
Washed And Sliced Th
2Ribs celery -- sliced thin
2Carrots -- peeled,
Halved lengthwise -- and
Sliced thin
2Purple turnips -- peeled,
Cut into small wedges
½cupWhite wine
1Bay leaf
Bouquet Garni:
3Sprigs thyme
1Sprig rosemary
Parsley (small amount)
Tied together
6cupsVegetable Stock(Or 8 Cups)
Or
Chicken stock OR
Water
1cupSmall pasta such as tubetti
1smallBulb fennel -- cored,
Cut In Half Lengthwi
And Sliced Thin
1mediumZucchini -- cut in half
Lengthwise
Sliced 1/2\" Thick
2smallsYellow squash -- Sliced 1/2\"
Thick
2Ripe tomatoes(or 3) -- Cored
Chunked
1cupBaby Peas (Fresh Or Frozen)
2cupsSpinach leaves -- washed
And
Cut into wide strips
½bunchParsley -- washed, picked
And chopped (about 1/2 cup)

Directions

Drain and rinse white beans. Place in medium saucepan with enough water to cover by an inch. Add onion halves (with cloves) and bay leaf. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer, and cook covered very gently ½ hour. Skim any foam that has accumulated on the surface.

Add water to just cover beans if necessary. Add 2 teaspoons salt and continue to cook 1530 minutes until beans are creamy inside but still intact. Remove bay leaf and onion halves, and set beans aside in their cooking liquid until needed. In the meantime, heat olive oil in large kettle or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add onions, season with remaining salt and pepper, and cook 58 minutes until softened. Add garlic, stir, cook 2 minutes or until fragrant. Add leeks, celery, carrots, turnips and sweat 5 minutes. Add wine, bay leaf, bouquet garni and simmer until wine is reduced by half. Add stock or water and bring to the simmer. Add pasta and cook until pasta is almost al dente. Add fennel, zucchini and squash, the cooked white beans and their cooking liquid, and cookfive minutes; add tomatoes and cook two more minutes. Finally, add peas and spinach and cook 1 minute, until peas are tender. Add parsley, taste and adjust seasoning if needed.

Remove bay leaf and bouquet garni. Serve with a dollop of pistou swirled in. Yield: 12 servings (freezes well) Copyright, 1996, TV FOOD NETWORK, G.P., All Rights Reserved 10/21/96 show Recipe By : TOO HOT TAMALES SHOW #TH