Cooking With Rania: Fassoulada (White Bean Soup)
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Rania Harris, of Rania's Catering, is devoting all of January to warm soups and stew recipes to keep you warm during the winter months.
Fassoulada (White Bean Soup)
Ingredients:
- 2 cups dried great northern beans
- 8 fresh sage leaves
- Two 3-inch sprigs of fresh rosemary
Sauce:
- 4 teaspoons olive oil
- 4 ounces lean ham - chopped
- 2 large onions - diced
- 1/2 cup minced Italian parsley
- 1 large garlic clove - minced
- 3 teaspoons minced fresh basil
- 2 teaspoons tomato paste
- 2 - 16-oz cans crushed tomatoes with their liquid
- Salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste
- 3 cups water
Directions:
The night before, place the beans in a pot and add enough cold water to cover them by three inches. Allow the beans to soak overnight.
Drain the beans and turn them back into a 5-quart pot. Sprinkle with sage and rosemary. Add enough water to cover by about 3-inches. Cover and bring to a boil - lower heat to a simmer and cook the beans for 1 hour. Drain the beans and return them to the pot.
Meanwhile - make the sauce. Heat the oil with the ham in a heavy 4-quart pot. Add the onions and parsley. Sauté the onions until golden. Blend in the garlic, basil and tomato paste. Add the tomatoes and cook the sauce for 5 minutes - uncovered. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Add the tomato sauce along with the 3 cups of water to the beans. Bring the mixture to a gentle boil. Partially cover and cook the bean/tomato mixture for about 1 hour or until the beans are very tender and have the consistency of a very thick soup. Stir often to check for sticking.
Serves: 6