Recipe: Cranberry bean, lacinato kale and pasta soup

Total time: 2 hours

Servings: 8 to 10

Note: Lacinato kale, also called cavalo nero or black kale, is available from Whole Foods and some farmers markets; cranberry beans (also called borlotti beans) are widely available.

1/4 cup olive oil plus 2 1/2 tablespoons, divided

2 leeks, white part only, cleaned and sliced, about 2 cups

2 medium carrots, finely chopped, about 1 cup

1 onion, finely chopped, about 1 cup

3 cups dried cranberry beans

Kosher salt

2 bunches lacinato kale, cleaned, stemmed and coarsely chopped, about 10 cups

3 cups dried orecchiette pasta (about 9 ounces)

1 tablespoon fresh minced sage

1/2 cup fresh chopped parsley

1 1/2 tablespoons smoked paprika

1 1/2 teaspoons Hungarian paprika

1/8 teaspoon fresh lemon juice

Grated Parmesan cheese, for garnish

1. In a 4-quart soup pot or cast iron casserole (with a lid that fits), heat 1/4 cup of olive oil and cook the leeks, carrots and onions over medium-low heat until just softened, 8 to 10 minutes.

2. Add the dried beans and 12 cups of water. Bring to a simmer over high heat, then reduce the heat to low and cover the pot with the lid, stirring occasionally. After about 45 minutes, add 1 tablespoon of kosher salt. Continue to cook, covered, and again stirring occasionally, just until the beans are soft, 45 minutes to 1 hour or more (this may vary according to the beans you use).

3. With a slotted spoon, remove 1 cup of the beans and, separately, 2 tablespoons of bean liquor and set both aside. Add the kale to the soup, stirring in a few cups at a time as the greens wilt. Cover, and continue to cook for 8 to 10 minutes more until the greens are tender, then remove from the heat.

4. Meanwhile, bring a pot of salted water to a rolling boil and cook the pasta until al dente. Drain and reserve.

5. In a food processor, combine the reserved beans and bean liquor, sage, parsley, paprikas and lemon juice, the remaining 2 1/2 tablespoons olive oil and a pinch of salt. Blend until smooth, then check for seasoning, adding more salt if desired.

6. Just before serving, add the cooked pasta to the soup and stir to blend. Ladle the soup into bowls and top each with about 2 tablespoons of spiced bean purée. Grate Parmesan over the top of each bowl to taste and serve immediately.

Each serving: 298 calories; 13 grams protein; 41 grams carbohydrates; 14 grams fiber; 10 grams fat; 1 gram saturated fat; 0 cholesterol; 352 mg. sodium.