Zuppa di Fagioli (White Bean Soup with Bacon)

Name: Zuppa di Fagioli (White Bean Soup with Bacon)
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 90 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: 100 grams dried Northern white beans, soaked overnight; 2 slices salted bacon cut into pieces (pancetta); ½ small chopped red onion; olive oil; 1 tbsp tomato paste; salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

December 11, 2020 | By Peg Kern

Filed Under

Enjoy a wonderful fall recipe from Tuscany. Tuscany is known for hearty dishes, many of them soups. From a classic Ribollita and Pappa al Pomodoro to different vegetable soups, traditional Tuscan cuisine is perfect for fall and winter. Try this classic white bean soup with some crusty Italian bread and a wonderful Tuscan red wine.

Browse all our cooking vacations in Tuscany, and learn more about traditional Tuscan dishes.

Zuppa di fagioli

Serves 4
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 90 minutes
Cook method: Simmer

Ingredients

100 grams dried Northern white beans, soaked overnight
2 slices salted bacon cut into pieces (pancetta)
½ small chopped red onion
olive oil
1 tbsp tomato paste
salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Check out all our cooking vacations.

Instructions

1. Rinse the dried beans and place directly in 1 liter of water in a soup pot and boil until the beans become a puree. (Add more boiling water if beans become dry).

2. In a separate pan, sauté the chopped onion and bacon pieces in olive oil.

3. Add the onions and bacon to the bean mixture, then add the tomato paste, salt and pepper to taste.

4. Cook for about 45 minutes over a low flame, stirring occasionally.

5. Serve warm topped with a swirl of high-quality extra-virgin olive oil.

Learn about Tuscan wines.

Try more great Italian recipes, including: Necci (chestnut flour crepes) and Ribollita.