2197. WHITE BEAN SOUP with BACON and SPICY MERGUEZ SAUSAGE

serves six


⅔ cup white haricot beans, soaked overnight in twice their volume of cold water
1 quart chicken stock
1 cinnamon stick
3 tablespoons olive oil
2½ oz. bacon, diced
1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
1 stick celery, finely chopped
3 ripe tomatoes, skinned, deseeded, and finely chopped
1 teaspoon honey
1 teaspoon thyme leaves
zest of ½ lemon
1 tablespoon hazelnut oil
salt and pepper
1 cup spinach leaves, shredded
6 merguez sausages, grilled and sliced
⅔ cup roasted hazelnuts, peeled and crushed

Drain the haricot beans and place them in a pan with the chicken stock and cinnamon stick. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer for 1 to 2 hours until the beans are tender; cooking time will depend on their age and freshness.

In a frying pan, heat the olive oil and sauté the bacon, onion, garlic, and celery for about 4 minutes until they are lightly colored and softened. Add the mix to the beans and stock with the tomatoes, honey, thyme, lemon zest, and hazelnut oil.

To serve, bring the soup to a boil and season generously with salt and pepper to taste. Throw in the shredded spinach leaves, then garnish with slices of the merguez sausage and crushed hazelnuts.


bacon recipe courtesy of: Artichoke to Za’atar: Modern Middle Eastern Food Greg Malouf and Lucy Malouf. University of California Press, 2008