Romano bean and kale soup

A simple and nourishing soup that relies on the texture and flavour contrasts of romano beans with kale. Served here with freshly baked bread.

Ingredients

1/4t coarse sea salt
1 small scallion, minced
1/2T fresh garlic, minced
1t herbes de Provence (or similar)
1/4t black pepper
A pinch dried chilis
1/2T balsamic vinegar
1/2T tamari
1 cup cooked romano beans
2 cups vegetable stock
2T tomato passata (or puree)
1 cup curly green kale, coarsely chopped
2T nutritional yeast
Sea salt and black pepper to taste

Optional: Add some small pasta if you like. Increase the tomato passata for more tomato flavour. Use white beans if you prefer, but the texture and flavour won’t be quite the same. If you use canned beans, drain and rinse them thoroughly. I make mine from dried with a little kombu.

Method

In a medium pan with a lid, on medium high heat, stir fry everything from the scallions, up to and including the chilis for 2 minutes with a little water or avocado oil if you prefer. Add the vinegar and tamari. Deglaze the pan if necessary. Add the beans, stock, and passata.

Bring the pan to a light simmer. Cover, reduce heat to low and simmer 5-7 minutes. Add the kale. Simmer another 2 – 3 minutes to wilt. Ladle out, garnish with nutritional yeast and serve.