Recipe - White Bean And Vegetable Soup

One fourth pound Salt pork; rind discarded
and
; the meat cut into
; 1/4inch dice
2 cup Finely chopped onion
2 lg Garlic cloves; minced
1 Bay leaf
1 tablespoon Dried rosemary; crumbled
4 Ribs celery; cut crosswise
into
; 1/4inches slices
; (about 2 cups)
4 lg Carrots; cut crosswise into
; 1/4inch slices
; (about 2 cups)
1 pound Turnips; peeled and cut into
; 3/4inch pieces
1 pound Small red potatoes
1 pound Dried white beans such as
Great Northern; soaked in
enough
; cold water to cover
; them by 2 inches
; overnight or
; quicksoaked
; (procedure follows)
; and drained
4 cup Chicken broth plus; if
desired,
; additional for
; thinning the soup
6 cup Packed fresh spinach leaves;
washed well, spun
; dry, and shredded
; coarse
1 cup Dry white wine
Freshly grated Parmesan to
taste

In a heavy kettle cook the salt pork over moderately low heat, stirring,
until it is crisp, transfer the cracklings with a slotted spoon to paper
towels, and reserve them. In the fat remaining in the kettle cook the
onion, the garlic, the bay leaf, and the rosemary, stirring, until the
onion is softened, add the celery, the carrots, the turnips, the potatoes,
cut into 1inch pieces, the beans, 4 cups of the broth, and 6 cups water,
and simmer the mixture, covered, stirring occasionally, for 1 One half to 2
hours, or until the beans are tender. Stir in the spinach is cooked, and
stir in the wine, the additional broth or water to thin the soup to the
desired consistency, and salt and pepper to taste. Discard the bay leaf,
simmer the soup, stirring, for 5 minutes, and serve it sprinkled with the
Parmesan and the cracklings if desired.

To Quick Soak dried beans:In a colander rinse the beans under cold water
and discard any discolored ones. In a kettle combine the beans with enough
cold water to cover them by 2 inches, bring the water to a boil, and boil
the beans for 2 minutes. Remove the kettle from the heat and let the beans
soak, covered, for 1 hour.

Makes about 12 cups, serving 6 to 8.

Gourmet March 1991

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