America's Test Kitchen LogoCook's Country LogoCook's Illustrated LogoAmerica's Test Kitchen LogoCook's Country LogoCook's Illustrated Logo

Creamy White Bean Soup with Chorizo Oil and Garlicky Bread Crumbs

By Annie Petito

Published on September 5, 2019

Time

1 hour

Yield

Serves 4 to 6

Creamy White Bean Soup with Chorizo Oil and Garlicky Bread Crumbs

Ingredients

Chorizo Oil and Garlicky Bread Crumbs

5 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided¼ cup panko bread crumbs 1 teaspoon minced garlic Pinch table salt 2 ½ ounces Spanish-style chorizo sausage, chopped fine

Soup

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil ½ cup chopped onion 1 small celery rib, chopped fine3 sprigs fresh thyme 2 garlic cloves, slicedPinch cayenne pepper 2 (15-ounce) cans great Northern beans 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese 2 cups chicken broth, divided2 tablespoons unsalted butter ½ teaspoon lemon juice, plus extra for seasoning

Before You Begin

Use a conventional blender here; an immersion blender will not produce as smooth a soup. Do not drain or rinse the beans; their liquid contributes to the soup's flavor and body. Because the salt content of canned beans varies from brand to brand, season to taste at the end of cooking.

Instructions

    for the chorizo oil and garlicky bread crumbs

  1. Heat 1 tablespoon oil and panko in 8-inch skillet over medium heat. Cook, stirring frequently, until golden brown, 3 to 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Transfer to bowl and stir in salt. Heat remaining ¼ cup oil and chorizo in now-empty skillet over medium heat, stirring frequently, until chorizo is crispy, about 2 minutes. Using slotted spoon, transfer chorizo to paper towel—lined plate and cover skillet to keep oil warm.
  2. for the soup

  3. Heat oil in large saucepan over medium heat until shimmering. Add onion and celery and cook, stirring frequently, until softened but not browned, 6 to 8 minutes. Add thyme sprigs, garlic, and cayenne and cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add beans and their liquid and stir to combine. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and cook, stirring occasionally, until beans are heated through and just starting to break down, 6 to 8 minutes. Remove saucepan from heat and discard thyme sprigs.
  4. Process bean mixture and Parmesan in blender on low speed until thick, smooth puree forms, about 2 minutes. With blender running, add 1 cup broth and butter. Increase speed to high and continue to process until butter is incorporated and mixture is pourable, about 1 minute longer.
  5. Return soup to clean saucepan and whisk in remaining 1 cup broth. Cover and bring to simmer over medium heat, adjusting consistency with up to 1 cup hot water as needed. Off heat, stir in lemon juice. Season with salt and extra lemon juice to taste. Drizzle each portion of soup with chorizo oil and sprinkle with chorizo and bread crumbs. Serve.
Creamy White Bean Soup with Chorizo Oil and Garlicky Bread Crumbs
Photography by Carl Tremblay. Styling by Chantal Lambeth.

Creamy White Bean Soup with Chorizo Oil and Garlicky Bread Crumbs

Save

Time

1 hour

Yield

Serves 4 to 6

Ingredients

Chorizo Oil and Garlicky Bread Crumbs

5 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
¼ cup panko bread crumbs
1 teaspoon minced garlic
Pinch table salt
2 ½ ounces Spanish-style chorizo sausage, chopped fine

Soup

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
½ cup chopped onion
1 small celery rib, chopped fine
3 sprigs fresh thyme
2 garlic cloves, sliced
Pinch cayenne pepper
2 (15-ounce) cans great Northern beans
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
2 cups chicken broth, divided
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
½ teaspoon lemon juice, plus extra for seasoning

Ingredients

Chorizo Oil and Garlicky Bread Crumbs

5 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
¼ cup panko bread crumbs
1 teaspoon minced garlic
Pinch table salt
2 ½ ounces Spanish-style chorizo sausage, chopped fine

Soup

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
½ cup chopped onion
1 small celery rib, chopped fine
3 sprigs fresh thyme
2 garlic cloves, sliced
Pinch cayenne pepper
2 (15-ounce) cans great Northern beans
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
2 cups chicken broth, divided
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
½ teaspoon lemon juice, plus extra for seasoning

Ingredients

Chorizo Oil and Garlicky Bread Crumbs

5 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
¼ cup panko bread crumbs
1 teaspoon minced garlic
Pinch table salt
2 ½ ounces Spanish-style chorizo sausage, chopped fine

Soup

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
½ cup chopped onion
1 small celery rib, chopped fine
3 sprigs fresh thyme
2 garlic cloves, sliced
Pinch cayenne pepper
2 (15-ounce) cans great Northern beans
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
2 cups chicken broth, divided
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
½ teaspoon lemon juice, plus extra for seasoning

Why This Recipe Works

To make a creamy, smooth, and quick bean soup, we started by briefly simmering canned great Northern beans and their seasoned canning liquid with softened aromatic vegetables and herbs. Heating the beans caused their starches to hydrate, which made the soup especially creamy. Blending the beans with a small amount of liquid helped their skins break down so that the puree was completely smooth. Chicken broth plus a little Parmesan cheese and butter boosted the soup's flavor and richness. Chorizo oil and garlicky bread crumbs were quick-to-make but impressive garnishes that complemented the neutral soup base with vibrant color, flavor, and texture.

Before You Begin

Use a conventional blender here; an immersion blender will not produce as smooth a soup. Do not drain or rinse the beans; their liquid contributes to the soup's flavor and body. Because the salt content of canned beans varies from brand to brand, season to taste at the end of cooking.

Instructions

    for the chorizo oil and garlicky bread crumbs

  1. Heat 1 tablespoon oil and panko in 8-inch skillet over medium heat. Cook, stirring frequently, until golden brown, 3 to 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Transfer to bowl and stir in salt. Heat remaining ¼ cup oil and chorizo in now-empty skillet over medium heat, stirring frequently, until chorizo is crispy, about 2 minutes. Using slotted spoon, transfer chorizo to paper towel—lined plate and cover skillet to keep oil warm.
  2. for the soup

  3. Heat oil in large saucepan over medium heat until shimmering. Add onion and celery and cook, stirring frequently, until softened but not browned, 6 to 8 minutes. Add thyme sprigs, garlic, and cayenne and cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add beans and their liquid and stir to combine. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and cook, stirring occasionally, until beans are heated through and just starting to break down, 6 to 8 minutes. Remove saucepan from heat and discard thyme sprigs.
  4. Process bean mixture and Parmesan in blender on low speed until thick, smooth puree forms, about 2 minutes. With blender running, add 1 cup broth and butter. Increase speed to high and continue to process until butter is incorporated and mixture is pourable, about 1 minute longer.
  5. Return soup to clean saucepan and whisk in remaining 1 cup broth. Cover and bring to simmer over medium heat, adjusting consistency with up to 1 cup hot water as needed. Off heat, stir in lemon juice. Season with salt and extra lemon juice to taste. Drizzle each portion of soup with chorizo oil and sprinkle with chorizo and bread crumbs. Serve.

Gift This Recipe

Enjoyed this dish? Let others know by sharing it as a gift recipe.

This is a members' feature.