American

Kale & Borlotti Bean Soup with Poached Eggs

December 10, 2019
5
5 Ratings
Photo by Meike Peters
  • Prep time 5 minutes
  • Cook time 15 minutes
  • Serves 4
Author Notes

A cozy soup with kale and beans cooked in a hot, clear broth is the perfect cure for winter blues. I use duck broth to add richness and flavor, and add poached eggs to crown this wholesome treat. When you cut through the yolk, the golden liquid sinks into the vegetables, lending an almost creamy feel to the soup. And you can turn any leftover kale leaves into a beautiful pesto.

From 365: A Year of Everyday Cooking & Baking © 2019 by Meike Peters. Photography © 2019 by Meike Peters. Published by Prestel. —Meike Peters | eat in my kitchen

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Ingredients
  • For the soup
  • Extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 medium onion, cut into quarters
  • 2 large cloves garlic, cut in half
  • 7 ounces (200g / approximately 1 bunch) trimmed kale leaves, cut into strips
  • 5 1/4 cups (1.25 liters) homemade or quality store-bought duck, chicken, or vegetable broth, hot
  • 1 bunch fresh thyme
  • 1 sprig fresh rosemary
  • 1 bay leaf
  • Fine sea salt
  • Finely ground pepper
  • 1 1/4 cups (250g) drained and rinsed canned borlotti (cranberry) or pinto beans
  • For the topping
  • 4 to 8 large eggs
  • Coarsely ground pepper
Directions
  1. For the soup, in a large pot, heat a splash of olive oil over medium heat and sauté the onion and garlic, stirring, for a few minutes or until golden and soft. Add the kale, stir, and cook for 1 minute then add the hot broth, thyme, rosemary, and bay leaf. Season to taste with salt and finely ground pepper, reduce the heat, and simmer for 20 minutes or until the kale is tender. Remove and discard the herbs then add the borlotti beans and cook for 1 minute. Season to taste with salt and finely ground pepper and keep warm.
  2. For the topping, bring a small saucepan of salted water to a low simmer. Crack 1 egg into a small bowl. Hold a large spoon just over the surface of the water and gently pour the egg onto the spoon. Lower the spoon into the water and hold until the egg white starts to turn white then use a tablespoon to gently scoop the egg off the large spoon. Poach the egg for 3 minutes. Using a slotted ladle or spoon, transfer the egg to a plate. Poach the remaining eggs the same way, adjusting the heat as needed to maintain a low simmer. It’s best to poach 1 egg at a time, but you can cook 2 at once.
  3. Divide the soup among 4 bowls, place 1 to 2 eggs in the middle of each bowl, and sprinkle with a little coarsely ground pepper. Cut the tops of the eggs with a sharp knife and serve immediately.

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2 Reviews

Susan R. January 7, 2020
Quick, easy and tasty. I didn't have any canned cranberry beans so I used dried pintos and used the liquor in place of water. Will definitely make it again.
Sauce G. December 16, 2019
Nice Recipes. But you can try some Jade Bridge Sesame Oil To make it more flavored