White Bean Soup
2 (16 oz) cans white beans, such as cannellini, drained
2 cups low sodium chicken broth
1 cup of your favorite marinara pasta sauce
2 large cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup fresh basil or 1 tsp dried basil leaves
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
Garnish with: Quick garlic croutons
Puree all ingredients except garnish in a blender until smooth. Pour into a large saucepan or dutch oven, and bring to a simmer. Simmer, partially covered and stirring frequently, to blend flavors, 4-5 minutes. Serve, garnishing with croutons.
Quick Garlic Croutons
1 cup 1/2 inch bread cubes from a good quality french or italian loaf
2 tsp olive oil
1/8 tsp garlic powder
Pinch of salt
Heat an 8 inch skillet over low heat while preparing bread. A minute before you are ready to cook, increase heat to medium. Toss bread in a bowl with oil, garlic powder and salt. Cook, stirring frequently, until golden brown and crisp.