10-MINUTE WHITE BEAN SOUP WITH TOASTED CHEESE AND TOMATO

10-Minute White Bean Soup with Toasted Cheese and Tomato image

Steeping chicken broth with sprigs of rosemary and thyme for just a few minutes adds great flavor to this creamy white bean soup. The sandwich is toasted under the broiler, not fried in butter, and served open-faced, topped with juicy chopped tomatoes.

Provided by Food Network Kitchen

Time 10m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 14

Ingredients

1/2 cup dry white wine
2 sprigs fresh rosemary, each about 6 inches long
2 sprigs fresh thyme
2 1/2 cups low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth
Two 15-ounce cans of cannellini or other white beans, strained and rinsed
1 small shallot, peeled, trimmed and halved
1 small garlic clove, peeled, trimmed and halved
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
4 slices crusty sourdough bread (each about 1-inch thick; 8 ounces total),
3/4 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
2 plum tomatoes, seeded and chopped (about 1 cup)
1/4 cup grated Parmesan

Steps:

Position a rack about 4 inches from the broiler heat source, and preheat. Bring the wine, rosemary, thyme and 2 cups of the chicken broth to a boil in a covered medium saucepan over high heat. Reduce to a bare simmer.
Puree the beans, shallots, garlic, oil, butter, remaining 1/2 cup chicken broth, 1/2 teaspoon salt, a few grinds of pepper and 1/2 cup of the simmering broth in a blender until completely smooth and emulsified, about 2 minutes.
Meanwhile, lay the bread slices on a rimmed baking sheet, and top evenly with the mozzarella. Broil until the tops are browned and bubbling, 1 to 2 minutes; remove from the oven. Divide the tomatoes evenly among the toasts, and top with the Parmesan.
Remove the herb sprigs from the simmering broth; set aside. Whisk the bean puree into the broth, and return it to a gentle boil. Ladle the soup into bowls, and garnish with the reserved herb sprigs and a few grinds of black pepper. Serve with the cheese toasts.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 530 calorie, Fat 16 grams, SaturatedFat 5 grams, Cholesterol 10 milligrams, Sodium 810 milligrams, Carbohydrate 63 grams, Fiber 9 grams, Protein 28 grams, Sugar 4 grams