Today we talk about cabbage and beans, a delicious soup made even more enticing by the presence of speck, which gives it that extra touch with which the taste and aroma benefit. It is a simple dish, to be enjoyed immediately or the next day, for lunch or dinner, as long as it’s hot. You can use either home-cooked or canned beans, depending on your needs and what you already have in the fridge.
- Difficulty: Very easy
- Cost: Economical
- Preparation time: 20 Minutes
- Portions: 4
- Cooking methods: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
- Seasonality: Autumn, Winter, and Spring
Ingredients
- 9 oz cooked beans
- 1 lb cleaned cabbage
- 3 slices speck
- a quarter onion (small)
- to taste celery
- to taste fine salt
- to taste extra virgin olive oil
- 1 chili pepper
- 2 cups water or bean cooking liquid
Steps
If using canned beans, you will need to remove the preserving liquid and rinse them well under running water.
Remove the waste parts from the cabbage. Slice it thinly and then chop it coarsely.
Wash it under running water and let it drain in a colander.
Meanwhile, in a saucepan, sauté finely chopped onion and celery, the chili pepper, if desired, and the three slices of speck coarsely chopped in a tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil over high heat on the smallest burner.
When the speck and onion are browned, add the cabbage, stir often, and let it season for 5 minutes, always over high heat.
Then add the already cooked beans and two full cups of water (or bean cooking liquid), either hot or at room temperature.
Add salt, stir, cover the saucepan, and lower the heat to the minimum, letting it cook until the cabbage is tender (about 30 minutes), stirring occasionally.
Once cooked, and with the heat off, you can add grated table cheese.
If you want to make it a complete meal, you can add rice or pasta (I prefer rice) and finish cooking.
The extra idea. If you have cheese rinds in the fridge, scrape them with a knife (be careful with your hands, please), add them to the cabbage, along with the beans; I assure you this delicious soup will become even more enticing, fragrant, and flavorful.
