WTI Magazine #51    2015 January, 9
Author : Paola Lovisetti Scamihorn      Translation by:

This is a dish that makes you rediscover the rural tradition and colors of the season! This soup is a great main dish, perfect for a cold, winter day. It 's simple but very nutritious, because it is made of legumes and vegetables.

Legumes, in fact, are an excellent source of protein, fiber, minerals (calcium, potassium, iron) and B vitamins. In the past, legumes were considered the meat of poor people, and were commonly present on the peasants' table.

The recipe that I am proposing contains a mix of dried legumes such as beans, lentils, soybeans, chickpeas, peas and beans. And to make this dish even more tasty, I prepare a soffritto with onion, garlic, celery and carrot. The preparation is very simple, but it requires a bit of time, because legumes have to be soaked in water before cooking. To save time you can use a pressure cooker, which reduces the preparation time without sacrificing taste. You can top this soup with croutons or grated Parmesan cheese or, if you prefer, you can put a few drops of hot chili olive oil before serving.

FARMER'S SOUP
Preparation time: 5 hours Cooking time: 40 min. Servings: 6

INGREDIENTS
450 g (1 pound) mix of dried legumes
1 onion, finely chopped
2 cloves of garlic, finely chopped
2 carrots, cut into slices
1 leg of celery, sliced
1 potato, cut into cubes
2 bay leaves
4 tablespoons olive oil (Extra-virgin)
2 tomatoes, diced
salt and freshly ground pepper

PROCEDURE
1. In a large bowl soak the legumes for about 4 hours with the bay leaves. Drain and place in a large pot and cover with cold water. Bring to boil, cook over medium heat for about 20 min. Drain, remove the bay leaves and set aside.

2. In a saucepan over medium-low heat saute the onion, the garlic, the carrot, the celery and the potato in the olive oil for a few minutes. Add the legumes mix and cook over high heat for a few minutes, stirring with a spoon. Add the tomatoes and cover with plenty of water. Cook covered for about 20-25 minutes until all the legumes are tender (the exact cooking time should be indicated on the package). Add salt and freshly ground pepper to taste.

Note: When cooking legumes, it is important to add salt only at the end, because the addition of salt at the beginning will make the legumes less tender. It is also important when cooking to maintain a constant temperature.