Cannellini Bean,Kale And Bacon Soup For Fiesta Friday #51
Bean and Kale Soup
It’s cold out and a big pot of steaming hot soup is in order. I tend to be short on time and sometimes patience so a laborious process during the week is not in the cards for me. I used canned beans for this soup. there I said it, no soaking dried beans overnight, waiting hours for them to cook, good old canned cannellini beans and you know what the soup is delicious. This is really a simple rustic soup, one I had growing up, white bean soup with some sort of green in it and usually ham hock or bacon is a wonderful childhood memory. The soup is substantial and really no recipe is required so I will list the ingredients and amounts that I used but you can tailor the soup to your own taste. It is also delicious without the bacon for our lovely vegetarian friends. I made another loaf of sour dough bread and am serving it toasted with some melty delicious raclette. Bon Appetit!!
I am bringing a big pot of soup to Fiesta Friday #51, it’s so exciting we are almost at the 1 year mark and Angie@The Novice Gardener and her lovely co hosts Jhuls @The Not So Creative Cook and Juju @cookingwithauntjuju promise another fantastic party, how could it not be with so many great cooks.
Soup, bread and Cheese
Cannellini Bean, Kale and Bacon Soup
Serves 6-8 generously
6 cans (15 oz) cannellini beans drained
2 cloves garlic (minced)
1 onion diced
2 thick slices of bacon cut into small pieces
1 head kale (I used Tuscan) chopped
32 oz stock (chicken or vegetable)
2 cups (approximate) water
2 sprigs fresh thyme
In large pot add a little olive oil, heat on medium high and add onions, saute until softened and add garlic, continue to saute until the garlic softens, add the bacon cook for another 5 minutes and add the kale, let the kale wilt. Now add the liquid (stock and water), beans and the thyme. Bring to a boil and reduce heat to medium, continue cooking for about an hour to an hour and a half or longer until the beans break down a bit and the kale is soft. I like to mash some of the beans to thicken the soup, I just use a big spoon and mash on the side of the pot, leaving some beans whole. Serve hot.
apuginthekitchen 
Yum… I love soup during the winter. This sounds easy and tasty. I will make it this weekend! Hugs! 😀 :star::star: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
Thanks so much Teagan, it was a easy soup, perfect for this cold weather.
I made this for lunch. I knew it would be good, but Holy Hannah! It was amazing! And i’m not a big kale fan. It was so good that i even forgot about the bread. Thank you Suzanne! Mega-hugs.
I use canned beans sometimes too – their convenience factor is great!
I love the sound of this cannellini and kale soup – that bacon takes it to a whole other level! YUM! Happy Friday Suzanne!
Yes for sure, if I have time I do dried but nothing like the convenience of canned when you are in a hurry. Thanks Shashi!
YUMMMMMMMMM… *YUM*. I could reeeeaaallllyyy reaaaallllyyyy go for a bowl of this right now, it’s soup season and I must have some!!
Thanks so much Stephanie.
Kale is a great green to add into soups as it retains some of its body and doesn’t get mushy.
Yes, absolutely it really holds its shape an texture. Love kale Thanks Peter.
Wooo, I need a bowl of this tonight! This looks like the cozy, savory, meaty, deliciousness that soothes you right after a long week!
It does Lina, thank you so much.
You even make beans & kale look amazing! Thanks for another great recipe.
LOL, thanks Michelle. Good ingredients albeit simple make a great soup.
Cannelini beans and bacon – you got my attention! I have been trying to use kale more and this is a perfect recipe to try. Thanks for bringing this to Angie’s party. I know I could use something warm to eat 🙂
Thank you, white beans. greens and bacon or ham was something my Mom made all the time, grew up with it. It’s a hearty soup which works well in this cold weather. Thank you for co hosting FF#51.
My pleasure 🙂
Heading to the kitchen right now Suzanne to make this soup. I loved your presentation with the cheese and rustic bread, it’s lunch time here, and how I’m craving for it right now :). Perfect with the bacon and thyme too.
I do hope you like it Loretta. you can certainly tailor to your taste. Thank you.
A big bowl of soup is just what I’m craving…Love your combo of ingredients. The cannellini beans paired with the kale is so healthy, yet the touch of bacon must offer a wallop of flavor! Delicious looking…love that cheesy toast to dip, too!
I am having one for lunch and freezing the rest. It’s so good and hot and cozy, can soup be cozy. Well I feel cozy when I eat it. Thanks so much Nancy.
Soup can definitely be cozy…especially when you’re curled up on the couch and wrapped in a blanket with a big bowl of soup balancing on your lap!
Oh my gosh, does this look so SO delicious, Suzanne! I’m totally on board with using canned cannellini beans. I admit I use them more than dried beans. They’re perfectly delicious, and cuts the time in half! Lovely post… delicious recipe. I’m printing this…I’ve printed so many of your recipes… I’m going to need to buy a 3″ ring binder and call it Pug in the Kitchen Cookbook! ❤
You make me laugh and blush Prudy, thank you so much. I love canned beans, like you I use more canned than dried, it’s just easier.
I would totally buy the cookbook if you published one.. Of course, I would come to the signing… ❤️
Thank you and vice versa!!
Yum Suzanne – love the idea of the homemade sourdough with melty raclette cheese too.
Thanks so much, The bread with melty cheese and soup was nice.
What a lovely soup and story! Of course, I think the soup might be upstaged by the bread and cheese! 🙂
LOL, yes I think you are right.
This sounds like a great winter soup–and I bet it’s delicious served with your sourdough bread!
Thanks Nancy, it’s good with the bread and is a really nice hearty winter soup.
I love cannellini bean soups!!
Thanks Susan, me too!
This looks amazing! I could use some right now!
Thanks Sarah wish I could give you some.
This soup looks delicious. We should all make more recipes from our childhood.
Thanks Sharon, yes I agree, it’s fun making or trying to re create food from my childhood. Brings nice memories.
Fiesta Friday sounds like such a good idea. I have to confess I always used canned beans. At this stage I think I would be afraid to use dried in case they tasted so much better and I would then have to go through the soaking and cooking palaver whenever I wanted to use them. The soup looks delicious, I hope your cold snap passes soon. 😉
It is fun, and yes I like using canned beans. Other than tomatoes it’s pretty much the only canned food I use and honestly, I think that there is a little difference in the taste of dried vs canned but not enough that I will go through the effort most of the time.
I love soup! It is summer here in Sydney and stinking hot so I’ll tuck this one away for winter.
Most definitely this is not a summer soup. I’ve heard it’s been really hot in Australia this summer. Well it is very cold in NYC, the opposite extreme. Stay cool and thank you.
Sooo much to love about this meal you’ve created Suzanne – the soup, along with more of your delicious sourdough, topped with a little melted raclette! Your kitchen must have smelled amazing!
Thanks Margot I know with the heat in Australia the last thing you need to think about is hot soup. Hope you have some cool relief and maybe next winter you’ll make.
Very nice! I was going to ask how did you get the whitish broth, till I read that you mash some of the beans. Surely an excellent menu for the cold days. 😛
Yes, I mash some of the beans to make the broth thicker. Thanks Fae.
Hi Suzanne, this looks amazing! Great combo…1,400 miles is too far for me to come to eat a bowl with you! How’s sweet Prince Nando doing? And the Halo? You know,,,wait,,,I’ll be back
Nando is hanging in, he is becoming more accustomed to the halo and it has saved him from getting into dangerous predicaments. Thanks Cheryl, wish I were a neighbor I would bring you some soup.
To Mom: From Izzy: Mom you are back in the kitchen cooking, sniff, sniff it smells wonderful Mom. You are such a terrific cook! I miss being under foot…Nudges to Nando for me, hugs, hugs, more hugs from me to you! Love and miss you forever Mom. xoxoxoxoxoxo. Izzy.
Miss you too baby!
This looks and sounds delicious! I love the simplicity, but know that it packs a big flavor!! I’d love to try this on a cold winter evening 😀
It’s a wonderful soup, you can tailor it however you like, I keep it simple but it’s good with more garlic and onion and I always eat it with some pecorino romano grated on top. Thanks so much.
This looks ridiculously tasty. I really like the little grilled cheese toasties you did on the side, too 🙂
Thanks Mandi, it’s really good and that hot melty cheesy bread is perfect with the soup.
yum, this looks so good!
styleandchocolates.blogspot.com
Thank you so much, will definitely check out your site too!
ooh this soup looks so yummy! It started snowing here today (luckily it hasn’t settled) so it definitely feels like soup weather
Oh you have snow. We have had frigid cold but only a little snow so far. Yes soup weather for sure. Thanks Michelle.
Slurp. Oops did I do that out load? Beans and kale, yes ma’am, I’ll take a bowl of that. Happy FF. I’m so behind in posting. I think the short daylight hours are interfering with my creativity. Good excuse, yes?
Happy FF Tracey, the short daylight hours wreak havoc with me and my productivity, I feel like I should go to bed at 7PM. It’s a great excuse. Thank you.
I like being here, I like reading your recipes… I feel home! Tuscan kale and cannellini beans… my region is your bowl… Love it!
What an incredibly nice thing to say, thank you so much, Such a sweet comment means the world to me.
This is so my kind of soup! It look hearty and the kind of soup I want to just tuck in to and it is loaded with delicious ingredients! 🙂
Thank you so much Petra, it’s homey and rustic and simple and exactly how I like to eat.
This bowl has everything hearty and warmy in one convenient soup – great idea 😀
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Thank you so much Uru.
Love it with the gorgeous hunk of bread and cheese!! PERFECT for chilly weather!!
Thanks so much, it was a great filling meal.
Such a comforting soup Suzanne. I can easily consume it minus the bacon.
It’s just as good without the bacon, thanks Sonal.
So yummy, Sue! Sounds like you and I are on the same page this week! 😀
Your split pea and kielbasa soup is my favorite way of enjoying both split peas and lentils. Yes we are and thanks so much.
I’ve been obsessed with cannellini beans lately and I’m a huge fan of kale. This soup is soooo perfect for this weather. Look at that bread too. I’m coming over!
I love cannelloni beans, I use them in pasta fagiole also. When cooked down they can be so creamy. Thanks so much Amanda.
You’ve got me drooling again. I hate wet knees,
xxx Huge Hugs xxx
Lol, you always make me laugh David, thank you so much.
This soup sounds and looks right up my street! Love how warming and delicious it is!
Thanks so much Jess. That it is.
Yummmm! Beans and kale combo.sounds wonderful Suzanne…. perfect for this freezing weather. …
Thanks Chitra, a wonderful combination.
Hi Suzanne, I love this soup, so favorable but without the bacon for me. 🙂 Thanks!
Thank you Mochi, of course no bacon. Hope you are well.
What a great soup, Suzanne! Little by little, I’m seriously getting … fond of kale. I’ll make your soup for sure. It sounds too delicious not to go for it! 😜
Hi Francesca, hope you all are well. I used Tuscan Kale, it’s wonderful in this soup and very mild in flavor. I just love cannelloni beans they make such a delicious soup. Give my love to Stefano and the Queen and Sophia.
Yum! Love the bean and kale – I do a veg soup like this but the addition of the bacon is genus. I must try this addition.
Thanks Cindy, my Mom always added some sort of meat like ham or bacon to the soup. Really adds a nice flavor.
Yummy Yummy Suzanne, I have been using more beans this year, mainly in my soups, I think I have soup more this month than anything. I made Lentil soup last night 🙂
I love lentil soup, I like to add kielbasa it’s so good in it. Thanks Amy. beans are the best in soups.
This looks super yummy! A warm filling soup on a cold day is one of my favorite things. I don’t mind at all that you used canned beans, I do it too 😉
Thanks Sarah, well canned beans are easy and I love easy.
I’ve just used a can of cannellini beans with tortellini as sometimes I can’t be bothered to wait. Besides, the quality of the can I buy is as good as all of that soaking. Which apparently diminishes the overall taste. No need to soak them anymore. Ah, bacon. Now that I’m eating meat occasionally a little bit of bacon would’ve gone nicely in what I’ve just eaten.
Funny, how I RT’d this but didn’t have time to read any posts over a rather hectic w/end. Your soup really does sound delicious. Even better with your sourdough.
Yes I made a soup with cannelloni and tortellini with a lot of vegetables. Delicious. I am of the opinion that bacon makes anything better. Today has been so hectic, I am just now sitting down at the computer to look at emails. ugh.
I definitely haven’t tried Kale this way! It looks and tastes amazing and I can’t wait to make this in the colder months.
Thanks for sharing your lovely recipe!
MUCH LOVE KAREN
(STYLESMORGASBORD) [BLOGLOVIN])
Thanks so much Karen, must check out your blog.
oh that’s perfect! Great ingredients and can imagine it being so warming on a cold winter’s day.
Oh for sure Liz, nothing like a hot bowl of soup on a cold day. This is a real meal. Thank you so much.
I am such a soup person, and that looks so darn delish. I am feeling under the weather and I would love this to eat
Oh no, feel better. Wish we were neighbors I would bring you some soup. Thank you so much.
I made your delicious Italian inspired dinner soup! it was superb!… I ate it also with home-made bread ala spelt bread! MMMMMM,….it surely was! X
Thank you, so happy and thrilled you liked the soup. I wanted to try making the sourdough with spelt flour but would love to see your recipe is it on your site?
This is SOOOO incredibly similar to the minestra I posted on my blog (and have actually entered into contests twice on Food52)! Sadly, I never won or earned a community pick, probably because it is one of those “ugly duckling” dishes! 🙂 I’m sure I’d love your soup, and I bet it’s the perfect kind of soup for cold winter days, too-dipping that delicious sourdough bread into the bowl! Yum, lucky you!
I am not sure I ever saw your recipe on Food52 will have to look, it really is an ugly duckling sort of dish, not attractive at all but so delicious and hearty. Thanks so much Christina, this soup is very much like the soup I grew up with.
Such a beautiful soup. It has a Tuscan feel to it. It’s a great idea for keeping warm in the winter and using a few ingredients from the can or freezer, too. Of course you have gouda and a delicious, hearty bread to enjoy with your luscious, nutritious soup!
Thanks so much Shanna it really was nice soup and used vegetables before they went bad.