With the cold weather upon us nothing warms me up better than a bowl of steamy hot soup. A huge pot of soup simmering on the stove to me, is the perfect comfort food! Not only is it economical to make, but when you throw in some dark leafy greens such as swiss chard, you up the nutritional and health benefits too. So it’s not only something that taste’s good, it’s good for you, I call that a win win situation!
Swiss chard is packed with nutrients, one of them being vitamin C. Lab studies suggest that regular consumption of foods rich in vitamin C help maintain normal connective tissue, prevent iron deficiency, and helps the body develop resistance against infectious agents by boosting immunity, and with the H1N1 virus lurking all around us, I would say immunity boosting foods are a good thing!
Here’s the Ingredients:
2 cans of rinsed and drained cannellini beans or you could use dried.
2 onions chopped
2 carrots diced
1 large bunch of swiss chard, stems removed and leaves chopped.
6-8 cups of homemade stock or a good store bought brand.
Precooked broken spaghetti
Olive oil, fresh finely minced basil, 1-2 crushed garlic cloves, grated parmesan, salt and pepper.
In a heavy soup pot, saute onion, carrot, garlic and chard, then add everything else and simmer for about an hour. If your like me and you save your cheese rinds in the freezer, please add one to your soup, it makes a world of difference to the flavor of your broth, otherwise just add your grated parmesan to your individual bowls.
In a bowl add the cooked spaghetti, and then ladle your soup over the top along with plenty of grated cheese, and if you want, a tiny drizzle of olive oil. Grab a spoon and go curl up on a couch with a good book, or in my case any foodie magazine will do. Enjoy!!
Buon Appetito!
I’m Marie, a wife, mother, mother-in-law, and gramma of two beautiful girls. My passion is food, clear and simple but especially Italian food, hence the name of my blog, Proud Italian Cook. I want you to feel right at home here so grab a cup of coffee, I’ll get the pastries, take a look around and enjoy your visit! {
My son doesn’t eat a lot of vegetables other than spinach that I put in soup. I made this the other night and he never mentioned what was the green. A good way to get better greens in the diet. Delious soup.
my son has described this soup as”surprisingly awesome.” i had company and served this with homemeade bread everyone loved it !!
parm rind is the key.
I made this for dinner tonightand the hubby and I were very content. Excellent, Marie!
I love Swiss Chard! Excellent soup.
That looks SO YUMMY!
This is my kind of soup!
Okay, Marie – this is too funny. When I saw your soup I was laughing because I’ve been making this soup for a few weeks now – or a very, very close version! My mom used to put broken up spaghetti in the soup when I was growing up and that’s how I still make it to this day! Lots of greens, vegetables and broken up spaghetti. Love it!
This looks so yummy and healthy! Can’t wait to make it!
I just came across your blog and LOVE it. As an Italian myself, these recipes look delicious and I am always looking for new recipes for my husband and I. Thanks for the great ideas!
This looks so yummy. Love soup best of all!
Your soup looks as comforting as a big fluffy robe! Love chard – wish I could find the red more often. Escarole is divine too! YUM….
Yummy- I need a big bowl of that to get me over this flu! xox
I have to agree with Cathy. Lots of grated cheese and good bread make it sooo comforting!!!
My favorite kind of soup and a sure pleaser on a cold, wet November day. Looks delicious, Marie. Lots of grated cheese and some good bread make the perfect meal.
Hi Marie
I love Swiss Chard! Your soup recipe looks like a wonderful way to serve it and hopefully stay healthy.
What a great soup. Now if it would only warm up here in Arizona.
Your soup looks perfect! I love swiss chard and the fact that it is so incredibly nutritious!
That soup looks very similar to my vegetable soup, except for the spaghetti. I always use some beans, and swiss chard – my favorite green, and I toss in a parmesan rind like you do. Perfect for a crisp fall day.
Your soup looks really good, could probably substitute spinach for the chard. I am in my comfort food it is cold outside mode, for sure. Just need a slice (or half of loaf, if it was up to UJ) of crispy Italian bread to do with this soup.
There is something so comforting about putting your hands around a bowl of soup!!! This is a great looking bowl of soup!!!
I love soups like this! I only tried swiss chard once. I’ll have to try it again.
We love soup and we love swiss chard so this is a win win recipe for us… YUMMO!!! Have a super day my friend!
(((HUGS)))
Donna
Yum, this soup looks so comforting! I want to curl up and eat some!
This soup looks incredible! Filled with some many comforting ingredients and flavors. Perfect for the cooler days ahead, thanks.
I love this soup! And sometimes I use chard, other times spinach – sometimes kale. I am in”make ahead food” for family as I now work eves for awhile. Will try your version. It is comforting me already.
It sounds so comforting and reminds me of home.
I make this with chard from the garden! yummy winter soup!
I’ve never had swiss chard before. This soup is making me curious and I may just have to make it. I’m down for anything immunity boosting!