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Hearty Tuscan Chickpea Soup (Zuppa di Ceci)

A close-up, appetizing view of rich, orange Tuscan chickpea soup featuring whole chickpeas and dark green kale.
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Make this simple, rustic Tuscan Chickpea Soup using accessible ingredients. This recipe delivers the savory, herbaceous flavor of authentic Italian farmhouse cooking without complicated steps.

Ingredients

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  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
  • 2 carrots, chopped
  • 2 celery stalks, chopped
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
  • 1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
  • 6 cups vegetable broth
  • 2 (15 ounce) cans chickpeas, rinsed and drained
  • 1 bunch kale, stems removed and roughly chopped
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • Extra virgin olive oil for drizzling

Instructions

  1. Heat the olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the chopped onion, carrots, and celery. Cook until softened, about 6 to 8 minutes.
  2. Add the minced garlic, dried rosemary, dried thyme, and red pepper flakes, if using. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
  3. Pour in the crushed tomatoes and vegetable broth. Bring the mixture to a simmer.
  4. Add the rinsed and drained chickpeas to the pot. Reduce the heat to low, cover, and let the soup simmer for 20 minutes to allow the flavors to blend.
  5. Stir in the chopped kale. Cook until the kale wilts and becomes tender, about 5 minutes.
  6. Taste the soup and season generously with salt and black pepper.
  7. Serve the hearty Tuscan soup hot, drizzled with a good quality extra virgin olive oil.

Notes

  • For a creamier texture, remove about 1 cup of the soup (mostly chickpeas and broth) before adding the kale, blend it until smooth, and stir it back into the pot.
  • This soup freezes well. Cool completely before transferring to an airtight container.
  • Use fresh rosemary and thyme if you have them; use 1 teaspoon fresh rosemary and 1/2 teaspoon fresh thyme.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://tastethisplate.com/tuscan-chickpea-soup-recipe-easy-hearty/