WHITE BEAN SOUP WITH ESCAROLE

White Bean Soup with Escarole image

This escarole and bean soup has become a favorite because it uses kitchen staples, it's packed with healthy ingredients and is a cinch to prepare. If I can't find escarole, I sub fresh spinach at the very end of cooking. -Gina Samokar, North Haven, Connecticut

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories Lunch

Time 50m

Yield 8 servings (2 quarts).

Number Of Ingredients 11

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Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 small onion, chopped
5 garlic cloves, minced
3 cans (14-1/2 ounces each) reduced-sodium chicken broth
1 can (14-1/2 ounces) diced tomatoes, undrained
1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1 cup uncooked whole wheat orzo pasta
1 bunch escarole or spinach, coarsely chopped (about 8 cups)
1 can (15 ounces) cannellini beans, rinsed and drained
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Steps:

In a Dutch oven, heat oil over medium heat. Add onion and garlic; cook and stir until tender. Add broth, tomatoes, Italian seasoning and pepper flakes; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, 15 minutes., Stir in orzo and escarole. Return to a boil; cook 12-14 minutes or until orzo is tender. Add beans; heat through, stirring occasionally. Sprinkle servings with cheese. Freeze option: Freeze cooled soup in freezer containers. To use, partially thaw in refrigerator overnight. Heat through in a saucepan, stirring occasionally and adding a little broth if necessary.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 174 calories, Fat 3g fat (1g saturated fat), Cholesterol 2mg cholesterol, Sodium 572mg sodium, Carbohydrate 28g carbohydrate (3g sugars, Fiber 8g fiber), Protein 9g protein. Diabetic Exchanges