Best Leek And Swiss Chard Soup Italian Zuppa Di Porri E Bietole Recipes

ZUPPA DE CLAMS (OR MUSSELS)

Steps:

• Wash and dry the clams and soak them in a large bowl in cold, salted water for about 30 minutes.
• Any remaining sand should fall to the bottom of the bowl.
• Drain the clams and rinse them well in a colander under running water.
• Crush one clove of garlic, and slice the remaining cloves very thin.
• In a large, heavy pan, sauté the crushed garlic until it begins to brown, then remove from the pan and discard.
• Add the remaining sliced garlic and the parsley.
• Cook over very low heat for 2 to 3 minutes, then add the tomatoes and enough liquid to just make a slightly soupy dish.
• You don't want too much liquid in this, but judge the amount to your taste.
• Season with the salt and pepper, then raise the heat to medium and cook for 15 minutes.
• (Add more liquid if necessary).
• Add the clams, lower the heat again, cover pan, and let steam for about 10 minutes, or until the shells have opened and the clams are ready.
• Discard any unopened clams.
• Sprinkle with more freshly ground pepper and the basil, if desired.
• (You can substitute a teaspoon of dried if you wish).
• Serve in shallow bowls with slices of bread for dunking.

SAUSAGE AND SWISS CHARD SOUP

Steps:

• In a small saucepan over medium heat, boil the wine until reduced to 1/2 cup, 7 to 10 minutes. Set aside.
• In a soup pot over medium heat, warm the olive oil. Add the sausage and cook until browned, about 5 minutes per side. Transfer to a plate and let cool, then cut diagonally into 1/2-inch slices.
• In the same pot over medium-low heat, cook the onion, celery, carrot and leek, stirring occasionally, until soft, about 10 minutes. Add the garlic and thyme and cook, stirring occasionally, for 2 minutes more. Add the reduced wine, the stock and water, increase the heat to medium-high and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes. Add the sausage, white beans and chard and cook until the chard wilts, 5 to 8 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
• Ladle the soup into warmed bowls, and garnish with the cheese. Serve immediately.

SPAGHETTI WITH TUNA AND SWISS CHARD

Steps:

• In a large saucepan of boiling salted water cook the chard ribs for 7 minutes, add the leaves and cook for an additional 3 minutes. Drain the chard, rinse it under cold water to stop the cooking, and pat it dry between paper towels. Finely chop the chard. (The chard may be prepared 2 days in advance and kept chilled in a zip lock plastic bag.).
• In a heavy skillet cook the onion in 1/3 cup of the oil over moderately low heat, stirring until it is softened, add the chard, the parsley, and salt and pepper to taste, and cook the mixture, stirring for 5 minutes. Stir in the tuna and cook the mixture until the tuna has just heated through.
• In a kettle of salted boiling water cook the spaghetti until it is al dente, drain it well, and in a large bowl toss it with the tuna mixture, the wine vinegar and salt and pepper to taste. Drizzle additional olive oil over the pasta just prior to service.
• Serves 12 as part of an Italian Christmas Eve Buffet Dinner.

ZUPPA DI PORCINI (PORCINI MUSHROOMS SOUP)

Steps:

• In a pot, heat extra virgin olive oil, butter and throw in sprig of nepitella. Add fresh porcini to the pot and let cook for a minute so that the mushrooms can absorb all the flavours.
• Add a ladle of vegetable broth and allow porcini to cook for another minute or until the broth has been absorbed. Add salt and black pepper to season and pour in the remaining broth. Bring the soup to a boil and then lower the heat. Let simmer for half hour.
• Before plating, add parmigiano cheese and 2 eggs. Stir very well for a minute and serve hot.

SWISS CHARD & POTATO SOUP

Steps:

• Heat butter in a pot over medium heat. Add onions and swiss chard stems and saute for 2 minutes or until softened.
• Add potatoes, chicken stock and milk and bring to a boil.
• Simmer soup for 5 minutes; add swiss chard leaves (reserving 1/4 cup for garnish) and simmer 5 minutes longer or until potatoes are very soft and chard is wilted.
• Puree soup in a blender or food processor (An immersion blender also works well). Season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Garnish:.
• Heat oil in a small skillet over medium high heat. Working in batches, add Swiss chard (be careful, as it will pop and splatter oil) and fry for 1 to 2 minutes or until crisped.
• Drain on paper towels.
• Garnish soup with crinkled Swiss chard.