sick day soup
When I'm feeling sick, whether from a cold, the flu, or even just a few too many glasses of wine (we've all been there, don't judge) I always crave soup.
Since I'm not a huge chicken noodle soup kinda guy, I always experiment! This week I woke up Monday morning with the worst cold I've had in awhile. I think the fluctuation in weather really took a toll on my immune system, and I could NOT get out of bed. A few hours later, the soup craving kicked in. I know I'm on the upswing when I start to feel hungry again so I moseyed into the kitchen and took to the stove Chopped style. I found white beans, red beans, kale, pancetta, and chicken stock (I always keep my kitchen stocked with it!).
- 1 cup pancetta, diced
- 1 yellow onion, diced
- 2 cups chopped kale
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 2 cans drained white (or Cannellini) beans
- 1 can drained Kidney beans
- 1 chunk of good parmigiano-reggiano cheese
- 6 cups chicken stock
In a large stock pot, add the onion, garlic, and pancetta to 2 tablespoons of hot olive oil, stirring occasionally until most of the fat renders from the pancetta.
When you notice that the fond (caramelized bits of pancetta stuck to the bottom of the pot) isstarting to brown, add the beans and kale and cayenne pepper. Stir! Once the kale and beans are evenly coated, add the chicken stock.
Cover and let simmer on medium heat for about 30-45 minutes, depending on how tender you like the kale. Once the soup is ready, and the fragrance fills your kitchen, serve and top with freshly grated parmigiano-reggiano. So simple, so easy and SO delicious.
With-in minutes of having the soup, maybe due to the act of making it (or the DayQuil) I was feeling better. Perfect for this in-between winter and spring weather we're having, and so filling. What's your favorite cold remedy?
