Our regular customer Canice Flanagan tried out our Cranberry beans and came up with this winning recipe. The ingredient amounts are very loose so feel free to experiment and make it your own. Let’s make soup this week!
Swiss Chard Soup with Cranberry Beans and Leeks
Niman Ranch bacon, sliced in 1″ pieces
Shallots, sliced into rings
1 bunch baby leeks, sliced into rings
Garlic, minced
Whole dried red peppers, seeds removed
Red and/or Pink Swiss chard, chopped – stems reserved and sliced
Baby dino kale, stripped from stems and chopped
1 quart chicken stock
6 oz. Cranberry beans, cooked
Pioppini mushrooms – quick sautéed with garlic and sherry
1 lemon
Fresh sage – 1 tablespoon minced
Grated Parmiggiano-Reggiano (optional)
Sweat the bacon and then cook shallots and leeks until softened and beginning to brown lightly. Add garlic, dried peppers and chard stems and cook 2 minutes. Add chopped greens, give them a good stir, and sauté until they begin to soften. Pour in chicken stock and add cranberry beans. Bring to a boil then reduce to low and add the sautéed mushrooms; allow to simmer until the greens are tender, about 8 minutes. Remove the red peppers and stir in juice from one lemon and the minced sage. Serve immediately. Pass Parmesan at the table.
Quick, unrelated question:
If I was to buy two types of beans from Rancho Gordo, what should they be?
I vote for Scarlet Runner and Marrow.
Quick tip: next time you’re at the Ferry Terminal Market, stop by Prather Ranch to pick up the Range Brothers bacon. it is as far superior to the Niman Ranch bacon as Niman Ranch is to normal, store bought stuff.
Quick tip: next time you’re at the Ferry Terminal Market, stop by Prather Ranch to pick up the Range Brothers bacon. it is as far superior to the Niman Ranch bacon as Niman Ranch is to normal, store bought stuff.
Mike, I think you could pick them out blindfolded and still do well, but Good Mother Stallard are always on my short list. We’re running low on Marrow again so order them sooner than later if you want to try them.
JA, will pick up some Range bacon tomorrow!