GARMUGIA SPRING SOUP FROM LUCCA

GARMUGIA SPRING SOUP FROM LUCCA image

Yield 8 bowls

Number Of Ingredients 24

2 cups fresh shelled peas
2 cups fresh shelled fava beans
2 cups minced spring onions
2 cups asparagus (cut into slices; tips kept whole)
2 cups artichokes (chokes cut into eight wedges; stems peeled and chopped)
1-2 lemons
1 bowl of water
10 Tbs extra-virgin olive oil
5 ounces minced pancetta
1/2 lb ground veal
Fresh thyme (a handful of sprigs)
Black pepper (20 turns of pepper mill)
1 tsp salt
2 quarts meat broth
For the croutons:
8 slices stale crusty bread (cut into cubes)
10 sprigs of fresh thyme
2 cloves of garlic (crushed)
3 Tbs extra-virgin olive oil
Black pepper (10 turns pepper mill)
1 tsp salt
Topping:
1-2 Tbs grated Parmesan cheese per serving
Drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil per serving

Steps:

See how to prepare dish at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1z7ARxw835A Squeeze a lemon (or two) in a bowl of water to keep the artichokes from browning once you've trimmed and cut them. Prepare all the vegetables and pancetta as described in the list of ingredients. Heat the broth and bring to a boil. Preheat the oven to 430°F. Sauté the spring onions in the oil over medium heat. Let the onions sweat and become translucent (about 5 minutes). Add the pancetta. Let the fat from the pancetta melt. Turn up heat and add the veal. Let veal cook as you stir. Drain the artichokes from the lemon water they'd been soaking in and add to pot. Stir them in and let them cook for about a minute. Add all the other vegetables and stir them in. Salt. Pour the meat broth into the pot and let soup simmer for about 7-10 minutes or until vegetables are just cooked. In the meantime prepare the croutons. Cut the bread as instructed in the ingredients and place them in an oven tray. Dress them with the thyme, pepper, olive oil, salt and garlic and toss. Put in a preheated 430°F oven till croutons get toasted (less than 10 minutes). When soup is ready add the fresh thyme and the pepper and stir. To serve the soup ladle it into a bowl, top with the croutons, 1-2 Tbs grated Parmesan cheese and a drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil.