Tuscan Kale and White Bean Soup… In the Crockpot

Ingredients:

In the Crock
• 2 quarts water
• 2 cups, dried, great northern white beans, soaked for two nights
• 2 medium carrots, roughly chopped
• 2 ribs celery, roughly chopped
• 1/2 large yellow onion, roughly chopped
• 3 medium potatoes, peeled and chopped into bite sized pieces
• 3 tbls extra virgin olive oil
• 2 tsp onion salt by Real Salt (sub plain salt)
On the Stovetop
• 2 tbls extra virgin olive oil
• 2 large handfuls of kale
• 4 cloves garlic
• bean puree (in recipe below)
• 1 tsp onion salt by Real Salt (sub plain salt)

Method:

In the Crock
1. Soak your beans, preferably for two nights, rinsing and changing the water after each day. This will ensure that your beans become soft and tender.
2. Drain and rinse your beans.
3. In a large crockpot add the water, beans, carrots, celery, onion, potatoes, 3 tbls extra virgin olive oil, and salt. Mix together well and cook on low for 8 hours.
On the Stovetop
4. Once the beans and vegetables are soft and tender, remove one cup of beans and one cup of broth. Make sure to replace the lid on the crockpot.
5. Puree the beans and broth in a blender or food processor.
6. Once the beans and the broth have been pureed, heat 2 tbls extra virgin olive oil in heavy bottomed sauce pan or cast iron skillet. Add the kale and garlic. Saute for 2-3 minutes or until the kale begins to wilt and the garlic lets out its aroma. Add the bean puree and saute for an additional 2-3 minutes or until the flavors begin to incorporate.
7. Add the bean kale mixture back to the crock and mix through. This will add more flavor and depth to the soup. Allow to continue to cook in the crock, covered, for an additional 10 minutes.
Fried Crusty Bread
8. To heighten the flavors of the soup, spread extra virgin olive oil on both sides of crusty bread.
9. In a shallow frying pan or cast iron skillet heat an additional 1 tbls of extra virgin olive oil and add one clove of freshly minced or pressed garlic.
10. Place the bread on top of the oil and garlic and allow to toast on both sides.
To Serve
11. To serve, place the bread on the bottom of a bowl, topped with the soup, and sprinkled with freshly grated parmesan or pecorino romano cheese.