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Italian white bean soup with polenta croutons recipe

Italian white bean soup with polenta croutons recipe

38 ratings

Packed with fresh rosemary, cannellini beans and polenta, this wonderfully warming soup is crammed with flavour and takes just 25 minutes to make. With a splash of lemon and shavings of vegetarian hard cheese (or Parmesan), it's the perfect dish for refuelling the family on cold winter nights. See method

  • Serves 4
  • 10 mins to prepare and 15 mins to cook
  • 298 calories / serving
  • Freezable
  • Healthy
  • Vegetarian

Ingredients

  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 onion, sliced
  • 2 garlic cloves, crushed
  • 3 x 400g tins cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
  • 600ml vegetable stock
  • handful rosemary, chopped, plus extra to garnish
  • ½ lemon, zested and juiced
  • 1/2 x 500g pack polenta, cubed
  • vegetarian hard cheese or Parmesan shavings, to serve
If you don't have these beans, you can use any tinned bean in water

Each serving contains

  • Energy

    1255kj
    298kcal     15%

  • Fat

    8g 12%

  • Saturates

    2g 11%

  • Sugars

    6g 7%

  • Salt

    1.6g 27%

of the reference intake
Carbohydrate 6.2g Protein 16g Fibre 12.8g

Method

  1. Heat 1 tbsp oil in a pan. Add the onion and cook for 3-4 minutes, until softened. Add the garlic, cook for 1 minute, then stir through the beans, stock and rosemary.
  2. Bring to the boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 10 minutes. Remove half the mixture and whizz with a stick blender to a purée. Stir it back into the soup. Add the lemon zest and juice, then season to taste.
  3. Meanwhile, heat the remaining oil in a frying pan. Add the polenta cubes and fry for 2-3 minutes, turning until golden and crisp on all sides. To serve, ladle the soup into bowls and top with the polenta croutons, extra rosemary and cheese shavings.

Freezing and defrosting guidelines

Make the soup, then leave to cool at room temperature. Freeze (without garnishes or toppings) in a rigid container, leaving a bit of space for expansion, for up to 1-3 months. Reheat either from frozen or defrost in the fridge overnight. Once piping hot, add toppings or garnishes and serve.

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