Chicken, Bacon And Bean Soup Portuguese Style

Total Time: 2 hrs 30 mins Preparation Time: 30 mins Cook Time: 2 hrs

Ingredients

• Servings: 8
• 1 lb dried bean, rinsed and picked over (such as cannellini or great northern)
• 1/2 lb bacon, cut into 1/2 inch wide pieces
• 2 cups yellow onions, chopped
• 1/2 cup celery, chopped
• 2 tablespoons shallots, minced
• 1 tablespoon minced garlic
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 2 quarts chicken stock
• 3/4 lb cooked chicken, diced
• 1 cup freshly grated pecorino romano cheese

Recipe

• 1 put the beans into a large pot.
• 2 add water to cover by 2 inches and soak for at least 8 hours or overnight.
• 3 then drain.
• 4 fry the bacon in a heavy stockpot over medium-high heat until crisp, about 7 minutes.
• 5 use a slotted spoon to lift onto paper towels to drain.
• 6 pour off all but 2 tablespoons of the bacon fat from the pot.
• 7 add the onions and celery and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 4 minutes.
• 8 add the shallots, garlic, bay leaves, salt and cayenne.
• 9 cook, stirring occasionally, until the shallots soften, about 1 minute.
• 10 add the beans to the pot with the stock, and bring to a boil.
• 11 reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until the beans are tender, about 1 1/2 hours.
• 12 stir in the chicken and the reserved bacon and heat through.
• 13 remove and discard bay leaves.
• 14 ladle into warm bowls and sprinkle with the grated cheese.