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Tuscan White Bean Soup | Instant Pot Recipe

Tuscan White Bean Soup in a white bowl with a spoon

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Easy, nourishing, and FAST!  This Tuscan White Bean Soup is packed with flavor and feel-good veggies.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 4 strips of bacon, diced
  • ½ cup small diced onion
  • 1 cup diced carrots
  • 1 cup diced celery
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • 4 cups chicken broth, divided
  • 1 parmesan rind – optional
  • 1 (14.5 oz) can cannellini or great northern beans, UNDRAINED – divided
  • Juices of half a lemon
  • 2 cups chopped kale
  • ½ cup half and half

Instructions

  1. Add bacon to the pressure cooker pot and select sauté.  Brown bacon until crisp.  Use slotted spoon to remove bacon and place on a paper towel-lined plate; set aside.
  2. To the bacon drippings, add the onion and saute 3-5 minutes until soft.
  3. Add carrots, celery, garlic, Italian seasoning, bay leaf, thyme, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper, and sauté for another minute.
  4. Add a splash of chicken broth and scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan.
  5. Add 2 cups of chicken broth and parmesan rind (if using).  
  6. Secure the lid and turn pressure release knob to a sealed position.  Cook at high pressure for 8 minutes. 
  7. When pressure cooking is complete, use a quick release.
  8. Remove bay leaf and any remaining parmesan rind.  Scoop 2 ladles of soup into a blender and add ½ cup of the white beans; blend until smooth.
  9. Pour puréed soup, juice of half a lemon, and remaining beans back into the pressure cooker pot.  Add kale and use the sauté button to bring the soup back to a simmer for 2-3 minutes until the kale is wilted.
  10. Add half and half; stir.
  11. Taste and add extra salt or pepper if desired.  If you like the soup thinner, add another 1-2 cups of chicken broth (depending on how thick you want your soup).
  12. Serve hot with a sprinkle of bacon and parmesan cheese.

Notes

  • Don’t have a parmesan rind?  Add ½ cup grated parmesan to the blender when blending the soup.
  • Do not drain and rinse the beans.  This starchy liquid helps thicken the soup.