Winter Vegetable Soup

Potatoes, squash, and white beans combine for a substantial main-dish soup. Pancetta is Italian cured bacon. If you can't find it, 2 strips of smoked bacon will work.

1 teaspoon olive oil
2 ounces pancetta, chopped
1 cup chopped onion
3 garlic cloves, minced
2 cups cubed peeled acorn squash
2 cups diced peeled red potato
1/2 cup chopped celery
1/2 cup chopped carrot
1 teaspoon dried basil
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
1 (28-ounce) can whole tomatoes, drained and chopped
2 (14 1/2-ounce) cans fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth
4 cups chopped kale
1 (15.5-ounce) can navy beans or other small white beans, rinsed and drained

Heat oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add pancetta; sauté 3 minutes. Add onion and garlic; sauté 3 minutes. Add squash and next 6 ingredients (squash through thyme), stirring to combine; cook 4 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add tomatoes; cook 2 minutes.
Stir in broth; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer 8 minutes. Add kale; simmer 5 minutes. Add beans; simmer 4 minutes or until potato and kale are tender.
Yield: 4 servings (serving size: about 2 cups)

NUTRITION PER SERVING
CALORIES 349(27% from fat); FAT 10.4g (sat 3.3g,mono 4.6g,poly 1.4g); PROTEIN 14.4g; CHOLESTEROL 10mg; CALCIUM 213mg; SODIUM 1076mg; FIBER 10.5g; IRON 4.2mg; CARBOHYDRATE 55g
Cooking Light, DECEMBER 2002