Recipes White Bean Soup with Bacon and Herbs 5.0 (2,199) 5 Reviews The Spanish dish caldo gallego is the inspiration for this warming soup, combining the heartiness of white beans and crisp bacon with a light, herb-infused broth. To keep things vegetarian, you can swap the bacon fat for olive oil or butter and top the soup with another crunchy garnish of your liking, such as croutons. The longest part of the process is allowing the soup to simmer and all the flavors to meld, but your patience will pay off. By Jose Garces Jose Garces F&W Star Chef » See All F&W Chef Superstars Chef Jose Garces shares his most requested recipe, most influential cookbook and a tip for making entertaining easy. Can you share one great entertaining tip? Involve your guests! You don’t have to put them to work peeling potatoes, but everyone likes to feel useful, and engaging them in preparing and serving the meal helps to break the ice and encourages them to mingle and enjoy one another’s company. What recipe do your fans request most? My caldo gallego, or ham and white bean stew, is a favorite of my two biggest fans, my kids. It’s hearty, homey and incredibly satisfying, which makes it a perfect staple. What’s your favorite cookbook of all time? There are so many that have been important to me, but perhaps the most influential was The Art of South American Cooking, by Felipe Rojas-Lombardi. It’s one of the most inspirational books I’ve ever read. It started me down my professional path. Growing up in an Ecuadorian American household, I was always exposed to Latin food. But professionally, I got my start working with more classical French techniques. This book brought me back to the extraordinary diversity and richness of Latin cuisine. Food & Wine's Editorial Guidelines Updated on August 18, 2022 Print Rate It Share Share Tweet Pin Email Photo: © Petrina Tinslay Active Time: 30 mins Total Time: 2 hrs Yield: 12 servings Ingredients 1 1/4 pounds thick-sliced bacon, cut crosswise into 1/4-inch strips 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 1 Spanish onion, finely chopped 1 large carrot, finely diced 2 celery ribs, finely diced 4 garlic cloves, minced 1 fresh bay leaf 2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme, divided 2 teaspoons chopped fresh rosemary, divided 1 pound dried Great Northern beans, soaked overnight and drained 10 cups chicken stock Kosher salt Freshly ground black pepper Directions In a large soup pot, cook the bacon over moderate heat, stirring, until browned and crisp, about 7 minutes. Drain, reserving the fat and bacon separately. Heat the olive oil in the soup pot. Add the onion, carrot, and celery and cook over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are softened, about 8 minutes. Stir in the garlic, bay leaf, and 1 teaspoon each of the chopped thyme and rosemary and cook until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add the drained beans, stock, and 3 tablespoons of the reserved bacon fat and bring to a boil. Simmer the soup over moderately low heat until the beans are tender, about 1 1/2 hours. Discard the bay leaf and stir in the remaining thyme and rosemary. Season the soup with salt and pepper and transfer to shallow bowls. Garnish the soup with the bacon and serve. Make Ahead The soup and bacon can be refrigerated separately for up to 3 days. Recrisp the bacon before serving. Suggested Pairing Bright, citrusy Albariño. Rate it Print