5 c Chicken stock
1 lb Chicken breasts, skinned
2 Bay leaves
3 tb Olive oil
1 Onion, chopped
2 Garlic clove; minced
2 Carrots, diced
2 Celery stalk; diced
1 Sweet green pepper, diced
2 c Cabbage; chopped
1 ts Dried thyme
1 ts Dried rosemary
19 oz Tomatoes, coarsely chopped,
-undrained
1/4 ts Pepper
10 oz Spinach, frozen; chopped
1/2 c Parsley, fresh; chopped
1 sm Zucchini; thinly sliced
19 oz White kidney beans, drained
-& rinsed(red would do also)
8 sl French or Italian bread,
-stale
1 c Parmesan cheese
In large saucepan, bring chicken stock, chicken breasts and bay leaves to
boil; reduce heat, cover and simmer for about 20 minutes or until chicken
is no longer pink inside. Remove c#icken and discard the bones. Dice meat
and set aside. Discard bay leaves. Keep stock warm.
Meanwhile, in large skillet, heat 2 tbsp. of the oil over medium heat; cook
chopped onion, garlic, diced carrots and celery for 10 minutes, stirring
occasionally. Add remaining oil, diced green pepper, chopped cabbage,
thyme and rosemary; cook over low heat, stirring occasionally for 10
minutes.
Add vegetable mixture to stock in saucepan along with tomatoes and pepper;
bring to boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer for 30 minutes. Add spinach,
parsley, zucchini, kidney beans and reserved diced chicken; cook for 5
minutes. Remove 1 cup soup and set aside.
Ladle half of the remaining soup into 24-cup Dutch oven or casserole; cover
with 4 of the bread slices and 1/2 cup of the parmesan cheese. Cover with
remaining soup; layer with remaining bread. Drizzle reserved soup over top;
sprinkle with remaining parmesan cheese. (Recipe can be prepared to this
point, cooled, covered and refrigerated for up to 24 hours.) Bake, covered
in 350 F. oven for 20 minutes (45 minutes if refrigerated); uncover and
bake for 20 minutes longer (45 minutes if refrigerated) or until hot.
Garnish: ladle soup into large warmed bowls; garnish with drizzle of olive
oil and sprinkle of freshly grated Parmesan cheese.
Yields
6 Servings