Delicious Comfort Meal for Cold Nights: Escarole and Beans
Escarole and Beans is a one-pot dish known as Zuppa di scarola e fagioli in Italian. My version is healthy and delicious. It is a warming bowl of goodness on a cold evening. The ease and simplicity of making this quick Italian meal in a bowl make it even better.
Years ago, Italian peasants originally prepared bean soups from dried beans. They added foraged wild greens from their fields and used water as the liquid. Today most of us making a similar soup, shop for the greens at our local market. Lots of us also use canned beans and broth for convenience.
Zuppa di Scarola e Fagioli or Escarole and Beans is a well-loved dish. It is available in countries all over the world and called by different names. Different types of greens and a variety of beans can be used in its preparation.
Many families have their own version of this recipe, sometimes passed down from generation to generation. The first time I prepared escarole and beans, I used my husband’s mother’s recipe. She made her broth from ham hocks. She served the hocks on the side of the brothy cannellini beans and escarole. Now I have many different versions that I enjoy making depending on the ingredients that I have in the kitchen.
This comforting meal is very flexible. It can be served broth like or cooked until the beans become creamy and stew like, which I prefer. You can adapt it to the ingredients you have in your pantry, refrigerator, or garden on any given day.
In this version, I used escarole along with a mixture of garbanzo and cannellini beans. This provided a nice texture and taste. I also added a handful of fresh cherry tomatoes for color. Bacon and chicken broth added additional flavor. If you prefer, leave out the bacon and use vegetable stock. It turns into a perfect vegetarian or vegan dish. This dish is only limited by your imagination and the ingredients you have on hand.
This is a meal in itself and doesn’t need any sides other than crusty bread or homemade crostini. A nice glass of Sauvignon Blanc pairs perfectly with the escarole and beans. If you prefer red, a medium Barbera from Italy would be great.
Escarole and Beans/Zuppa di scarola e fagioli
Serves 2 – 4, adjust the recipe accordingly
Cooking time 30 – 45 minutes depending on consistency desired.
Ingredients
- 2 slices of thick cut bacon, cut into small strips
- 2 Tbsp. olive oil
- 1 cup chopped onion
- 3 – 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 cups chicken stock or low-sodium broth
- 1 cup water, more if needed to thin
- 2 15 oz. cans cannellini beans
- 1 15 oz. can garbanzo beans
- 1 Tbsp. fresh thyme, less if using dry
- 1 Tbsp. fresh oregano, less if using dry
- 1/2 tsp. salt or to taste
- 1 tsp. black pepper
- 1/2 tsp. crushed red pepper or to taste
- 1 head of escarole, washed, dried and cut into bite size pieces
- 1/2 cup chopped fresh tomatoes (canned diced tomatoes can be substituted)
- olive oil for drizzling over finished dish, optional
- grated Pecorino Romano or Parmesan cheese, optional
Instructions
- Add olive oil to a large pot over medium-high heat. Then add bacon and cook until the bacon starts to brown.
- Add the onion and cook until soft. Then, add the garlic and cook for one minute.
- Add the chicken stock, water, one can of the cannellini beans and all the seasonings. Bring to a boil then reduce the heat to medium. Cook until the cannellini beans start to break up a little, about 5 or 10 minutes. Mash some of the beans using the back of a spoon, if necessary.
- Add the garbanzo beans and the second can of cannellini beans and simmer for about 10 minutes. Add the escarole in batches, if necessary, and cook until it is tender, about 5 minutes. Add the chopped tomato and let simmer for an extra 5 minutes or until desired consistency. Taste and adjust seasonings, if necessary.
- When ready to serve, ladle into soup bowls and drizzle with a little olive oil. If you wish, sprinkle with some freshly grated cheese such as Pecorino Romano or Parmesan.
NOTES FROM THE KITCHEN
- Kidney beans, limas, or black-eyed peas can also be used but are not traditional.
- If escarole is not available, kale, spinach, collard, or mustard greens can be substituted.
- Instead of using bacon, you can use pancetta or prosciutto. Bits of ham can also be used for flavoring or left out entirely.
- Let the first can of beans break up. Mash a portion of them. This creates a creamy sauce-like consistency in the dish.
- This can be an even heartier meal by adding sausage.
- By eliminating the meat and using vegetable broth, this is a wonderful vegetarian dish.
- I like to serve with homemade crostini. Slice a baguette, brush with a little olive oil and bake or broil until brown and crispy.
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I believe you will enjoy this quick and easy one pot dish of beans and greens. My husband and I enjoy it very much, especially when the weather is cold. As you sit at the table enjoying this comforting meal, know that you served your family a healthy meal. It was budget friendly and delicious as well.
I love beans – this is definitely for me …with the bacon!
A really simple yet tasty meal!
We love beans and greens together in a soup. I just wrote a post (for March) using white beans and chard. So healthy and flavorful. I need to try coking with escarole — can you believe I have never tried it?
This sounds like January in a bowl! Yum!
This sounds delicious! I had almost forgotten about this dish. Thanks for reminding me and offering a wonderful recipe!
Sounds wonderful for a cold winter day!
Ah, scarola e fagioli. You’re bringing back memories of my childhood. So comforting this time of year.
Your Escarole and Beans does look like a bowl of comfort! Today would be a good day for it, it’s dreary and cold.
That looks hearty and delicious for a cold winter’s night!
I love this kind of a dish . Beans are so nutritious and taste good. Thanks for the recipe.
Gorgeous. This would be perfect for a midweek supper on a cold winter’s night. Thank you.
Comfort food at its best!
My kind of food! In fact I made something very similar for my dinner tonight. Thanks!
This is one for the first dishes we ever had in Italy. It’s delicious and we make a vegetarian version of it frequently.
This hearty soups is so perfect for the season. Love the colorful and healthy addition of fresh greens and tomatoes. 🙂
MMmmm, I love this and cannellini beans. I don’t think I have ever had any escarole, need to try it!
That looks delicious, Karen. I can imagine how perfect this dish would be on a Sunday evening at the end of a busy weekend in cold weather.
Karen, this is a perfect dish for a cold winter’s evening! It also looks delicious. Thank you for the recipe!
Karen,
This is a cold weather staple at our house. It’s so good as is and the variations make it a really versatile dish! I usually use rainbow chard for the greens.
Pam
Beans are good for the winter seasons they really have nice nutrition
Wonderful! And definitely a comfort meal. My mum used to make her favourite Minestrone from the fagioli. Definitely brings back warm and fuzzy memories!! 🥰
Am hugely smiling for the love affair for your dish from around the world ! It is nearly 30C here this summer Sunday but I would have absolutely no trouble finishing a bowl here and now! And ‘speck’ is another variant one could use (sorry – just saw one of your comments on another post!), isn’t it? Am so smiling at David’s comment – well, we know what one Sunday in March will bring on ‘Cocoa & Lavender’, don’t we 🙂 ?
I love all beans prepared all ways–as far as I know! 😉 This is a wonderfully satisfying meal. Economical and so healthy. A welcome addition!
We don’t get escarole here but purple kale is in season which I think would be a great substitute.
hi Karen, since I moved my site to wordpress.org I lost contact with many people including you. Such a shame. Lovely recipe. Hope you’re doing well!
Love these kinds of recipes. I don’t think I’ve ever used escarole. I’ll have to look for it next time I’m at Whole Foods.
I feel warm and cozy just looking at these photos! I must make soup for dinner now. That sounds amazing.
I would be delighted to warm myself with this on a cold night Karen!
My mind of dish Karen! I love beans, and occasionally make them with tomatoes and garlic. Adding some greens is a great way to boost the nutritious value and looks so pretty too. 😃
Oh yes, please.
How simple and delicious!
Looks delicious and would be a welcome sight on a cold winter’s night.
Need a warming bowl of escarole and beans straight away! Love these easy pantry recipes to get through a busy week. Healthy World Cuisine
I love how versatile and easy this recipe is, and it looks so good!!! 🙂
It’s cool and rainy today and I’d love a big bowl of this! It looks so delicious with a good range of textures 🙂
Such an easy, stick-to-your-ribs dish that’s perfect for these chilly nights.
I had to Google escarole, Karen, but it all sounds very tasty and easy. I may well try this tonight.
I agree, this does sound perfect for a cold day! Thanks!
Love this soup of greens and beans
Beans might have been called the ‘meat of the poor’ in some quarters in days gone by in Italy but I reckon beans are beloved across all social levels of society … and they truly are so good for you, as well as tasting delicious! Brava!
Your recipe for Escarole and Beans sounds like the ultimate comfort food! I love how flexible it is with the ingredients and the depth of tradition behind it. The combination of garbanzo and cannellini beans with escarole and cherry tomatoes sounds so hearty and delicious. I can’t wait to try this for a cozy night in! 🍲😊
This feels like the perfect way to celebrate the winter season, Karen. I love that this soup is it’s healthy and hearty too. It looks delicious and I can’t wait to try it. Thanks for much for the recipe and hope you are well, CoCo
I cannot agree more – this is a warming bowl of goodness! I’m always into hearty stews, especially with legumes, so this recipe is calling my name.
maybe we call escarole by another name here in australia … anyway, beans and greens are a good mix!
sherry https://sherryspickings.blogspot.com/
Comforting and delicious!
This looks like the perfect winter meal, satisfying and delicious. And it doesn’t look that difficult to make.