Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Kale and White Bean Minestrone

So, this is the final week of Hale and Hearty's Chef Series soups. It's been fun looking forward to the new soup each week, and I was sad that I had to miss one. Such as it is, this week's offering comes from Chef Nick Anderer of Maialino fame. His Kale and White Bean Minestrone is described as "[...] tender luscious beans, a unique combination of vegetables and gently simmered Tuscan kale. Laced with olive oil and red wine vinegar [...]"

Kale and White Bean Minestrone

My first taste of this soup hit me hard with the red vinegar. It seriously was like a smack to the face full of vinegar. After that initial shock, the soup settled more into a complex blend of flavors. The vegetables mentioned are the standard mirepoix mix of carrots, onions, and celery. I noticed something red in there as well, but I couldn't quite figure out what it was. Red pepper? Tomato skin? The kale still has a nice bite to it, but I didn't get much "kale" flavor from it. It could just be that I may not know what kale is supposed to taste like. The white beans add heartiness to the soup and also a nice, soft texture. In the end, if you don't mix it up while you eat, you'll get spoonfuls full of vinegar flavoring, and that can sometimes be a bit off putting.

I enjoyed this soup as it's very homey and comforting. On the whole, I think it was my 3rd favorite from the series that I tasted. My final rankings would be:

3) Kale and White Bean Minestrone

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