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Meat, South and mountains

Corsican bean and bacon soup

Corsican bean and bacon soup is a slow simmered dish for 4 people, ready in 1 hour 50 minutes, easy to make, at a cost of €2.60 per serving. It combines white beans, smoked bacon, cabbage, carrots and potatoes in a thick broth. The trick to getting it right is mashing a few beans against the pot near the end of cooking, which thickens everything naturally without cream or flour.

A thick Corsican soup with white beans, cabbage, potatoes and bacon, hearty enough to feed the whole family.

Corsican bean and bacon soup
Total time
1 h 50
Difficulty
Easy
Cost per person
€2.60
Calories per person
670 kcalcalculated by Kiloach, your weight coach
Season
Winter, Fall

This soup comes from the Corsican mountains, where families were fed on few ingredients and long cooking times. The smoked bacon flavors the broth for hours, the white beans turn soft and creamy, and the green cabbage adds a vegetal edge that balances the richness of the bacon. The result is a thick soup, almost a stew, that fills you up without feeling heavy.

It's the perfect dish for a winter Sunday when you have time to let it simmer without watching the pot. It might not win over kids who dislike cabbage, but it reliably warms up adults after a cold walk outside. Mon Chou suggests it on days when the fridge is nearly empty but the pantry still has dried beans waiting their turn.

The ingredients

4 people

Pantry

  • Dried white beansoften in the pantry 250 g
  • Crushed tomatoesoften in the pantry 200 g
  • Saltoften in the pantry 1 pinch
  • Pepperoften in the pantry 1 pinch

Butcher

  • Smoked bacon or smoked pork belly 200 g

Fruits and vegetables

  • Green cabbage 0.5
  • Potatoes 400 g
  • Carrots 3
  • Onion 1
  • Garlic 2 cloves

Bakery

  • Country bread 8 slices

Allergens Gluten

The step by step recipe

  1. Soak the beans overnight, or use canned beans if you're short on time.

    Discard the soaking water, it's what makes beans hard to digest.

  2. Put the bacon, beans, onion and garlic in a pot covered with water and let it cook. 50 min

    Only salt at the end of cooking, the bacon is already salty and salt toughens beans.

  3. Add the carrots, diced potatoes and tomatoes, and keep cooking. 25 min

    Cut the vegetables into large chunks so they hold their shape.

  4. Add the sliced cabbage and cook until tender. 15 min

    Add the cabbage last so it keeps its color.

  5. Serve in deep bowls with grilled country bread.

    A drizzle of olive oil right before serving adds extra aroma.

Our tips to get it right

  • Pick smoked bacon with some fat on it, it melts slowly and flavors the whole broth without drying out.
  • If your beans are older, soak them for a full 24 hours, otherwise they'll stay tough even after an hour of cooking.
  • Always taste before adding more salt at the end, smoked bacon already releases plenty of salt into the broth.

The variations

  • Swap the smoked bacon for plain bacon lardons if you want a milder, less smoky flavor.
  • For a vegetarian version, skip the bacon, double the beans, and add a spoonful of smoked paprika to keep that smoky note.
  • For a quicker version, use canned white beans that are already cooked, you'll save nearly an hour of cooking time.

What to serve it with

  • Grilled country bread rubbed with garlic
  • Corsican sheep's milk cheese for dessert
  • A glass of Corsican red wine

Storage

This soup keeps for 3 days in the fridge in a sealed container, and the flavor often improves the next day. It freezes well for up to 2 months in individual portions. Reheat it gently over low heat, adding a splash of water if it has thickened too much.

Questions about this dish

Can you use canned beans to save time?

Yes, replace the 250 g of dried beans with two cans of drained white beans. Add them with the carrots and potatoes, they only need 25 minutes of cooking.

What cut of bacon works best in this soup?

A whole piece of smoked bacon or smoked pork belly works better than pre-cut bacon bits, since it releases flavor more slowly into the broth. Cut it into large cubes yourself before cooking.

Can you make this soup a day ahead?

Yes, and it's actually recommended, the flavors blend overnight and the soup thickens even more. Reheat it gently with a little extra water or broth.

How do you thicken the soup without cream or flour?

Mash a ladleful of beans against the side of the pot near the end of cooking and stir. The starch in the beans naturally binds the broth without weighing down the flavor.

How long does it take to make a Corsican bean and bacon soup with country bread?

Count 1 h 50 in total, prep and cooking included. The recipe is rated “easy”.

How many calories are in a Corsican bean and bacon soup with country bread?

About 670 kcal per serving, for a recipe meant for 4 people. Calories are calculated by Kiloach, your weight coach, the app that partners with Mon Chou.

How much does a Corsican bean and bacon soup with country bread cost?

About €2.60 per serving, or €10.40 for 4 people, based on average supermarket prices.

What allergens does this recipe contain?

This recipe contains gluten. Always check the labels of the products you buy.

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