A jar filled with vibrant red chilli powder, showcasing its rich colour and texture against a simple background.

Cannellini Bean Soup with Homemade Chilli Oil

The chilli oil gives this soup a deliciously piquant finish. Once made, the oil will keep, sealed in an airtight container in the fridge, for a couple of weeks, and you can use it to add a bit of heat to marinades and salad dressings or to trickle over pizzas. However, if you don’t have time to make it, you can simply trickle a little extra virgin olive oil over the soup and finish with some shavings of Parmesan, pecorino or hard goat’s cheese.
serves 4

Method

Chili Oil:

  1. First, make the chili oil. Put the chilies in a small saucepan with the olive oil, thyme leaves, and unpeeled garlic clove. Heat slowly until the oil is simmering very gently and cook the chilies until soft, about 20 minutes. Remove from the heat and cool.

Soup:

  1. For the soup, halve the leeks lengthwise, wash well, and slice thinly. Heat the olive oil and butter in a saucepan over medium-low heat. Add the leeks, thyme, and bay leaf, and sweat gently, stirring occasionally, for about 15 minutes, until very soft. Add the garlic and stir for one minute.
  2. Add the stock and cannellini beans, oregano, and half the parsley. Season with salt and plenty of pepper. Increase the heat and bring to a simmer. Cook gently for 20 minutes.
  3. Remove the bay leaf, taste, and adjust the seasoning if necessary. Stir in the rest of the parsley. Serve in warmed bowls with a drizzle of chilli oil over the top.

Ingredients

  • 4 medium leeks, trimmed (white and pale green part only)
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 15g butter (Optional)
  • A few sprigs of thyme, leaves only, roughly chopped
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
  • 1.3 litres vegetable stock
  • 2 x 400g tins cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
  • A handful of oregano, roughly chopped
  • A bunch of parsley, roughly chopped
  • Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

For the chilli oil

  • 4 red chillies, deseeded and sliced
  • 200ml olive oil
  • A few sprigs of thyme, leaves only
  • 1 garlic clove (unpeeled), bashed
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