ACQUACOTTA TUSCAN SOUP
THE UNRAVELING OF JULIA reference: “Acquacotta, soup with tomat’, bean, onion, litt’ bit cabbage.” – Chapter 14
INGREDIENTS
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1 medium onion, peeled and thinly sliced
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh celery leaves, and/or flat-leaf parsley or basil leaves
- 4 large Savoy cabbage (or green cabbage) leaves, kale or any dark leafy greens. Ribs removed and discarded and leaves roughly chopped
- 1-1/2 cups tomato puree, passata di pomodoro
- 1 cup cannellini beans or great northern beans
- 4 cups water (or vegetable broth)
- 3 teaspoons fine sea salt to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 3 to 4 slices Tuscan, sourdough or country bread, stale, toasted, if you don’t have stale bread, you can just toast fresh bread
- 1 clove garlic, peeled and sliced in half
- Aged Pecorino Toscano or Pecorino Romano cheese, freshly grated, for serving.
INSTRUCTIONS
1. In a large Dutch oven or stockpot, heat the olive oil over medium heat.
2. Add the sliced onion and sauté until softened and lightly golden, about 5 to 8 minutes.
3. Add the chopped celery leaves (and/or herbs) and chopped leafy greens (see above for suggestions).
4. Sauté until the greens are wilted, about 2 minutes.
5. Add the tomato puree and water (or vegetable broth)
6. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
7. Bring to a simmer. Add the beans and then cover and simmer over low heat for 15 to 20 minutes.
8. Toast the stale (or fresh) bread slices.
9. Rub each toasted slice of bread with a clove of raw garlic, cut in half, before placing 1 slice in the bottom of each bowl.
10. Ladle the soup over the toasted bread, let sit for 1 to 2 minutes to allow the bread to soften, then top each serving of soup with a generous grating of Pecorino or Parmigiano-Reggiano and serve.
Source: https://www.thespruceeats.com/tuscan-vegetable-soup-acquacotta-maremmana-recipe-4105298
Recipes featured in THE UNRAVELING OF JULIA by Lisa Scottoline
One awful night, Julia Pritzker witnesses the murder of her beloved husband during a mugging on a Philadelphia street. Later, while grieving him, she’s suddenly fearful that her fate is written in the stars, not held in her own hands.
Her luck seems to change when stunning news arrives from Italy, informing her that she’s inherited a fortune, a Tuscan villa, and a vineyard. But she’s mystified by her Italian benefactor, a total stranger named Emilia Rossi. She flies to Tuscany for answers.
There, Julia learns that Rossi suffered from delusions of grandeur, believing herself to be a descendant of Caterina Sforza, a powerful Renaissance duchess. Julia doubts that is true, but she can’t deny the uncanny resemblance between her, Caterina, and Rossi. She starts to unearth eerie parallels between them—and disturbing secrets.
Before long, Julia suspects she’s being followed and experiences disorienting delusions of her own. Even meeting a romantic Florentine doesn’t quiet her unease. Then events turn deadly, and Julia finds herself in a harrowing struggle for sanity and survival.