Hearty Tuscan Bean Stew

• servings: 8 servings

Ingredients

Table salt and pepper

1 pound, dried cannellini beans (about 2 cups), rinsed and picked over

1 tablespoon, extra virgin olive oil, plus extra for drizzling

6 ounces, pancetta, cut into 1/4-inch pieces (see note)

1 large onion, chopped medium (about 1 1/2 cups)

2 medium celery ribs, cut into 1/2-inch pieces (about 3/4 cup)

2 medium carrots, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch pieces (about 1 cup)

8 medium garlic cloves, peeled and crushed

4 cups homemade chicken broth

3 cups water

2 bay leaves

1 bunch kale or collard greens (about 1 pound), stems trimmed and leaves chopped into 1-inch pieces (about 8 cups loosely packed)

1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes, drained and rinsed

1 sprig fresh rosemary

1 Parmesan rind

Directions

Dissolve 3 tablespoons salt in 4 quarts cold water in large bowl or container. Add beans and soak at room temperature for at least 8 hours and up to 24 hours. Drain and rinse well.

Adjust oven rack to lower-middle position and heat oven to 250 degrees. Heat oil and pancetta in large Dutch oven over medium heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until pancetta is lightly browned and fat has rendered, 6 to 10 minutes. Add onion, celery, and carrots. Cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are softened and lightly browned, 10 to 16 minutes. Stir in garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Stir in broth, water, bay leaves, and soaked beans. Increase heat to high and bring to simmer. Cover pot, transfer to oven, and cook until beans are almost tender (very center of beans will still be firm), 20 minutes to 1 hour (the time can vary widely based on the freshness of the beans and length of soak time).

Remove pot from oven and stir in greens, Parmesan rind, and tomatoes. Cover pot, return to oven, and continue to cook until beans and greens are fully tender, 30 to 40 minutes longer (this is a rough estimate).

Remove pot from oven and submerge rosemary sprig in stew. Cover and let stand 15 minutes. Discard bay leaves and rosemary sprig and season stew with salt and pepper to taste. If desired, use back of spoon to press some beans against side of pot to thicken stew. Serve over toasted bread, if desired, and drizzle with olive oil.

Notes

Substitute 3/4 lb of sausage instead of pancetta and skip olive oil drizzle at the end.

Nutrition

• Calories: 3377