Cacciucco di ceci
Tuscan Chickpea and Swiss Chard Soup
Ingredients
- 400g 14 oz chickpeas pre-cooked or one large can
- 1 bunch Swiss chard trimmed of the stems and shredded
- 400g 14 oz tomatoes canned or fresh, crushed or milled
- 1 small onion thinly sliced
- 1-2 cloves of garlic minced
- A pinch of red pepper flakes
- Salt and pepper
- Olive oil
- 2-3 anchovy fillets optional
Toppings
- Olive oil
- Freshly grated black pepper
- Grated parmigiano-reggiano or pecorino
Instructions
- In a large pot, sauté the onion in a generous pour of olive oil over gentle heat, until it becomes soft and translucent. Add the garlic and let that, too, sauté until it just begins to give off its fragrance. (Add the anchovy at this point, too, if using, and let it 'melt'.)
- Now add the shredded Swiss chard and give it a good turn so it is completely coated with the soffritto. Season with salt and pepper. Let the chard simmer for a few minutes, until it has wilted.
- Add the chickpeas, drained of their liquid. (If using canned, rinse them as well.) Give them a turn and then add the tomatoes. Turn up the heat a bit to bring everything to a simmer. Simmer for 30 minutes, topping up with water (or the chickpea cooking liquid if you've boiled them yourself) as needed.
- Serve while still warm, with a drizzle of best quality olive, along with a good grinding of black pepper and freshly grated pecorino if you like, along with toasted slices of crusty bread, preferably homemade.