Tuscan White Bean Soup with Pancetta and Rosemary
Tuscan White Bean Soup with Pancetta and Rosemary
Rock the Boat: “Just sit right back and you’ll hear a tale, a tale of a fateful trip…” – Gilligan’s Island theme song
Evening on Lake James, NC
When the sun had set and the food was all gone, it was time to cast off. We invited my friend’s parents, her mother’s cousin and husband (got that?) to come aboard our pontoon, a.k.a. The Party Barge, a.k.a. The Chill Boat, so named because it doesn’t have the speed and sheer power of..well, a speed boat. This simple fact is about to become way important up in here. Especially for, let’s say, someone who has just purchased a waterborne vehicle and is still learning the ropes of boating safety and nautical know-how. Ahem. Anyway, Adam at the helm, puffing on his signature Cuban cigar and donning a classic white captain’s hat, was chatting with the other two men sitting at the rear of the boat (the stern). The women were at the front (the bow), sipping wine and having a wonderful time as we headed back to the marina. Dave’s boat (remember, the powerful speed boat?) was actually being driven by his son, who was gaily making large, lazy circles around The Party Barge from a safe parameter until he decided to straighten out and punch the gas for a joy ride on the last stretch home. Here’s a little F.Y.I. for all you budding boats people: A speed boat with a huge hull and a huge motor creates very large and wide wakes (moving waves) that the boat leaves behind when it is ripping across the water (got that?). No? Think Moses parting the Red Sea. Are you with me?
The Skipper, brave but unsure, did know that he had to turn into the oncoming tsunami so we wouldn’t be broad-sided. But, he didn’t expect what happened next. As he turned into the wave, now a.k.a. Dave’s Big-A$$ Wake, in what seemed like painfully slow motion, and close to something right out of the movie, The Perfect Storm, we went over the Hawaii Five-O barrel wave that tossed our boat like a rag doll, high in the air. You know the saying, “What goes up must come down?” Well, it’s true! The Party Barge took a titanic nosedive and mercilessly plunged into the lake, drenching us to the core. Us being the women. We three looked at each other in muted shock, as we all sat like drowned rats, our hair wet and clothes dripping, mascara running, with our arms crooked at the elbow in delayed defense of the watery onslaught, wine glasses in hand that were all now filled with a nasty, diluted pinkish cocktail of lake water and the remnants of a full-bodied red. Since the water port-rounded us, the men watched the whole thing, in the comfort of dry clothes and dry back seats, snickering enthusiastically, not even bothering to hide their delight in our rather messy misfortune. None of them, including Adam, got sprayed. Not even one tiny drop!
Well, my friend’s mother…oh, shiver me timbers! Buoy, oh, buoy, she got mad. I mean really mad. With her carefully coiffed ‘do now completely soaked and undone, she raised her bejeweled fist in the air, shook it violently, and with her lady-like draw of her sugary South Carolina accent, uncharacteristically screamed a few choice (stern!) words at her son-in-law that would have made a sailor blush. Although we were all freezing at this point (the women, not the men), I laughed out loud as I dried myself off. It was pretty funny, I had to admit. But then, as I tightly wrapped the towel around my shoulders, I looked over at the Capt’n, who was pulling long puffs from his dwindling stogie, staring off in the distance with a guilty look on his face. I thought it unusually odd, his remaining mysteriously silent about the whole thing. Normally, he’d be all over something like this. I believe the appropriate term would be gloating. So, knowing him as well as I do, he was definitely hiding something and I was pretty sure his novice captain’s skills may have been the reason we three had just been involuntarily baptized. I gave him major stink eye. Walk-the-plank kind of stink eye. At first, he avoided my stares and didn’t own up to his maritime mistake. Then, a little chagrined, he sheepishly fessed up. Yes, he had seen the first wake. But not the second monster one that almost swamped us.
Despite the bit of seafaring drama that ended the party on a less than ship-shape note, a few weeks later, we received an incredibly gracious and sweet card from my friend’s mother’s cousin (got that?) gushing about the astonishing surprise set-up of the food, how delicious everything was and went on and on about what a marvelous time they had and that they were still talking about it. My goodness, I thought. Looks like they didn’t even mind the unplanned “swim.” I guess it’s not really a party until something’s broken or someone gets thrown in the pool, huh? I suppose they had a good giggle about it afterwards, too. But probably after the women were safely back on dry land. And, um, in dry clothes. Definitely.
So, join us here each week my friend, you’re sure to get a smile…
Is there anything more soul warming on a cold (okay, and damp) day than a bowl of soup? One wisp of its aromatic steam, laced with woodsy rosemary, flavored with the smokiness of pancetta and richly perfumed with garlic and onions, it’s no wonder this soup is a classic. Quick and easy, too. So, matey…get yourself in the galley and whip up a steaming pot of Italian love!
Tuscan White Bean Soup with Pancetta and Rosemary
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus extra for serving
- 6 ounces pancetta, diced
- 2 onions, diced
- kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 5 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 quarts chicken stock
- two (14.5-ounce) cans cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
- 2 bay leaves
- 2 sprigs fresh rosemary
- 1 sprig fresh thyme
- 1 Parmesan cheese rind (optional)
- ¼ cup heavy cream
- ¾ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- In a large soup pot, heat the olive oil over medium; add the pancetta and cook until lightly browned and crispy, about 7 to 8 minutes, stirring frequently. Remove with a slotted spoon to a paper towel to drain. Set aside. Add the onions to the hot oil, season with some salt and pepper and cook until they begin to soften, about 5 to 7 minutes. Add in the garlic and cook for 30 seconds more. Add one cup of the stock to the pan, scraping up any browned bits. Add the remaining stock, beans, bay leaves, rosemary, thyme and Parmesan rind, if using. Bring to a boil, cover, lower the heat and simmer for 15 minutes. Fish out the bay leaves, herb stems and Parmesan rind; add in the cream and Parmesan and cook until soup starts to thicken slightly, about 5 minutes more.
- Taste for seasoning. Coarsely chop the pancetta and scatter a few pieces over each bowl before serving. Drizzle a little extra olive oil and a few shards of Parmesan over the soup, if desired.
…Adam says:
I am often asked what light sources I would recommend to those creating a home studio. Honestly, the best source I can think of is natural window light; it’s simple, easy to use and it’s free. (Photographers can go to a lot of trouble shut up in locked rooms with expensive equipment to re-create the look and feel of window light.) Choose a time of day when you like what you see and use it!
Content and photography © 20112 Hutchstone, LLC
It's really about us, my husband, Adam, and me (Cheryl), and mostly it's about the food. 
I made this tonight and I think it’s the best soup I’ve ever made! I made the beans (dry) In a crockpot so they could cook while i was at work, and used a hambone leftover from Easter. Then made the soup when I got home. I didn’t have pancetta so I just browned some bits of bacon. I didn’t add the beans til the end because I didn’t want them to over cook, but they still soaked up the flavor from the herbs etc. amazing! The cream adds such a depth of flavor. Will definitely be a family favorite! Thank you!
I have cooked it. We like it . Enough to serve it to friends. Thanks!
glassy~
Amazing soup! I made this weekend for my mom. Last year she & I went to Barcelona and had a bean dish that we couldnt get enough of. Since then I tried finding the recipe but nothing worked out. Fİnally your recipe. The picture looked very much like the one we had in Barcelona- so I gave it a try. And Yes the Tuscan style beans was the same as the Barcelona beans. Delicious… I didn’t use pancetta or bacon, but added the parmesan rind. I will give the same advice as one of the other comments don’t add the salt with the onions, wait until the soup is put together to add salt just enough to balance the saltiness from the parmesan and the stock
This soup was amazingly delicious. I made it this weekend and we wanted to eat it every day. My only suggestion is to skip adding the salt with the onions. I think it stems from using the stock which I can not find in the low sodium variety. Along with the panchetta, it was bordering on too salty and I LOVE salt.
This sounds delicious! Can't wait to try it!
Oh, I love surprises! I mostly love surprising people and seeing the looks on their faces when I whip out whatever I have up my sleeve. If it involves food, even better! I probably would have been mortified about getting drenched because I really really hate being wet, but would definitely make a great story later. This soup would be the perfect thing to cure the post-wave chills!
I was right in the middle of commenting on this post two days ago and, “click” the lights went out. I didn't forget the comfy, welcoming looking bean soup, though, and had to come by and pay my respects to the soup. I would leave out the pancetta, of course, (since I'm a pescetarian), but that's no excuse not to treat myself to this beautiful bean soup.
Thanks, too, Adam, for your always generous food photography advice. I started using my zoom lens for food photography (as you suggested in a previous post), and I'm seeing a difference already.
Cheers!
That sounds like my idea of a picnic, but wow what a follow up! Quite the unintended adventure I expect. Your soup is just beautiful, I do adore bean soups on chilly days
What a story! Wow. I am loving this soup, as well as the lighting advice. Great post.
Great, now I have the Gilligan's Island theme stuck in my head! Poor you, having your wine diluted with nasty water! The soup has everything I love in it! I see this in my near future.
You guys sure lead an exciting life. This recipe is an amazing coincidence. Friday morning I woke up with a taste for white bean soup, sprinkled with bacon, and served with cornbread. Mind you I've never had white bean soup before. I went to the store and bought a couple cans of white beans to experiment with. Haven't done anything with them yet. Guess I was waiting for a better recipe. Thank you and Congratulations on Top 9.
Congrats on making top 9! Soup looks wonderful…warm and hearty. Thanks for a great recipe!
You have a gift for story telling and photography. I felt as though I was on that boat with you, and had a great time! This soup is just what we need with this cold weather that's settled in. I'll be making it soon. Thanks!
Yum this soup looks good.
Yum this is my kind of soup, beautiful,simple and flavorful, congrats on the top 9.
This soup looks great! I would love it if you linked up this recipe to my blog hop for a chance to win a Quaker prize package: http://bit.ly/AeIHc6
Great story, Cheryl!!! You weave a mean tale… And this soup looks amazing…we're having some freakishly warm weather, but I know it will be soup weather again soon. Have a wonderful week~
You don't mind me laughing out loud:)))) That was an amazing story!
Your soup look and sound like a million bucks…I love the recipe and photos are of course fantastic..Great tip Adam!
Congrats on Foodbuzz top 9!!!
Your soup is just beautiful…and a good excuse to buy some of the little cocottes I've been eyeing.
Very funny. I would have been mad at 1st too. But then I'd start to laugh after I ran my mouth off at the person responsible. It great memories of good times.
Definitely looks healthy, tasty and perfect for winter! And good tip for the photography!
You have the best stories ever! I can't even imagine the apprehension at seeing the boat.
The dish looks and sounds gorgeous – pancetta makes everything even better
I was half afraid that Adam was going to admit to having done it to you guys on purpose, not knowing that you'd be so completely drench. Of course, if that had been the case, he'd still be in the dog house, huh.
The soup is amazing. I love white bean soup. It's still cold enough that this might just make it to our menu this week. Hugs to both of you.
This tale had me giggling. I am now picturing you and Adam on Gilligan's Island. This is a wonderful dish. You never fail to impress.
What would Adam's suggest for a house with crappy windows and tons of old trees shading all the sun? I honestly cannot find a window in this house that allows decent light. It's driving me mad!
Your stories are always such a great read-this one did have me laughing! One cannot help to get a picture of the scene in their mind-especially the friend's mother with her fist in the air!
A white bean soup would be delicious this time of year and I love cannellini beans, so this recipe is saved.
Awesome post as usual-enjoy the weekend.
I would have loved to see photos of the picnic.
Your soup sounds so good and satisfying.
LL
This looks like it would just hit the spot on a cold day!
This looks amazing! I always love your photos, and especially the stories you tell. This soup looks very comforting; I'll have to try it before the winter season is over.