"TWICE-BOILED" VEGETABLE SOUP WITH WHITE BEANS

Yield Makes 10 servings

Number Of Ingredients 15

2/3 cup dried Great Northern beans
10 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons chopped red onion
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1 large russet potato, peeled, sliced
2 large carrots, peeled, sliced
2 zucchini, sliced
1 red onion, sliced
1 bunch kale or Swiss chard, stems and ribs removed, leaves sliced
4 ounces savoy cabbage, thinly sliced
4 ounces green beans, chopped
1 celery stalk, thinly sliced
1 4-ounce slice pancetta or bacon
10 cups (or more) canned low-salt chicken broth

Steps:

Place Great Northern beans in large saucepan. Add enough cold water to cover beans by 3 inches; let soak overnight. Drain. Return to saucepan. Add enough fresh cold water to cover beans by 3 inches. Simmer until beans are tender, about 1 hour. Drain. Puree 1 cup beans in processor. Set aside pureed beans and whole beans. Heat 4 tablespoons oil in heavy large pot over medium heat. Add chopped onion and parsley; sauté 3 minutes. Stir in tomato paste. Add remaining vegetables and pancetta; sauté 3 minutes. Add 10 cups chicken broth, pureed beans and whole beans. Cover; simmer until vegetables are tender, stirring occasionally, about 1 1/2 hours. Season with salt and pepper. Cool slightly. Chill uncovered until cold. Cover; chill overnight.
Bring soup to simmer. Remove pancetta. Ladle soup into bowls. Drizzle remaining oil over soup and serve.