POTATO AND WHITE BEAN PUTTANESCA SOUP

Potato and White Bean Puttanesca Soup image

Provided by Hetty McKinnon

Time 40m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 14

2 tablespoons olive oil, plus more for serving
1 medium onion, finely diced (about 2 cups)
1/2 cup black olives, roughly chopped
2 tablespoons capers, roughly chopped
3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1 (28-ounce) can diced tomatoes
1/2 teaspoon granulated sugar
1 1/2 pound Yukon gold or red potatoes, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 (15-ounce) can cannellini beans, rinsed
1/2 teaspoon red-pepper flakes, or more to taste
3 cups vegetable stock
1/4 cup fresh parsley leaves and tender stems (or fresh basil leaves)
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
Kosher salt and black pepper

Steps:

Place a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. When hot, add 2 tablespoons olive oil and the onion, and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onion is softened.
Reduce heat to medium and add 1/4 cup black olives, 1 tablespoon capers and the garlic. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes until the garlic is lightly golden.
Add the tomatoes and sugar, and cook over medium heat until mixture is bubbling and tomatoes have thickened slightly, 5 minutes.
Add the potatoes, cannellini beans, red-pepper flakes and stock; stir and cover. Cook until potatoes are tender, about 25 minutes.
As potatoes cook, prepare the topping for your soup: Place the remaining 1/4 cup olives, 1 tablespoon capers and the parsley on a cutting board, and chop everything together.
Once the potatoes are tender, add the balsamic vinegar. Using the back of a large wooden spoon, roughly crush or mash about a quarter of the potatoes and beans against the side of the pot. This will thicken the soup. Season with kosher salt and black pepper.
To serve, ladle the soup into bowls and top with the caper-olive-parsley topping. Finish with a drizzle of olive oil. This soup can be made a day ahead and stored in the refrigerator. This will deepen the flavors.