White Bean and Ham Soup
This creamy, pureed bean soup gets some heft from cubes of smoked ham and paprika-dusted croutons.
Ingredients
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1 tablespoon unsalted butter
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1 large white onion, coarsely chopped
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1 carrot, coarsely shredded
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1 garlic clove, peeled and smashed
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3 thyme sprigs
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1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
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4 cups chicken stock or low-sodium broth
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Three 15-ounce cans cannellini beans, drained
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1 pound smoked ham in 1 piece
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1 1/2 cups cubed (1-inch) baguette
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2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
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1 teaspoon sweet paprika
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Kosher salt
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Freshly ground black pepper
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1 scallion, thinly sliced crosswise
Direction
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Gather your ingredients.
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Preheat the oven to 350°F. In a large soup pot, melt the butter. Add the onion, carrot, garlic, thyme, and coriander and cook the vegetables over moderately high heat, stirring, until softened, about 3 minutes.
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Add the stock, beans, and ham and bring to a boil. Cover partially and cook over moderate heat for 20 minutes.
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Meanwhile, toss the baguette cubes with the olive oil and paprika and season with salt. Spread on a baking sheet and bake for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until toasted.
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Remove the ham from the soup and cut it into 1/2-inch pieces. Discard the thyme sprigs.
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Working in two batches, transfer the soup to a blender or food processor and puree until smooth.
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Return the soup to the pot and stir in the diced ham. Season the soup with salt and pepper and ladle into warmed shallow bowls.
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Top with the croutons and scallion and serve.
