Name: Chickpea Soup with Pancetta and Rosemary
Total time: 1 h 15 min
Ingredients: 6 ounces pancetta , cut into ½-inch pieces; ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil , plus extra for drizzling; 1 cup chopped onion; ½ cup chopped carrot; ½ cup chopped celery; 1 teaspoon pepper; ½ teaspoon table salt; 3 garlic cloves , minced; 1½ teaspoons minced fresh rosemary; 2 bay leaves; 1 cup dry white wine; 4 cups chicken broth; 2 (15-ounce) cans chickpeas , rinsed; 8 ounces kale , stemmed and chopped; ½ cup chopped fresh parsley; Grated Pecorino Romano cheese

Why This Recipe Works

This comforting soup, inspired by similar recipes from the Italian region of Umbria, relies on humble ingredients. We gently cooked mirepoix (onion, carrot, and celery) in extra-virgin olive oil with rendered pancetta to build a robust base for the soup. Garlic, rosemary, and bay leaves gave our soup some soul and character while wine added acidity and brightness. To keep this soup pantry- and weeknight-friendly, we opted for canned chickpeas and store-bought chicken broth. The chicken broth tied all the flavors together while kale and chickpeas gave it nourishing heft. Sharp Pecorino Romano cheese was the perfect finishing touch.

Before You Begin

Be sure to buy a 6-ounce chunk of pancetta from the deli counter rather than presliced pancetta, as larger chunks are important here.

Instructions

Combine pancetta and oil in large saucepan and cook over medium heat until pancetta is beginning to brown, about 8 minutes. Add onion, carrot, celery, pepper, and salt and cook until vegetables are softened, about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in garlic, rosemary, and bay leaves and cook until garlic is fragrant, about 1 minute.

Add wine and cook for 1 minute. Stir in broth, chickpeas, and kale and bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low; cover; and cook until kale is tender and flavors have melded, about 30 minutes.

Discard bay leaves. Stir in parsley and season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve, drizzling individual portions with extra oil and passing Pecorino separately.