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Ingredients
1/2 lb dried large lima beans (about 1 cup), picked over and rinsed
3 lb meaty crosscut beef shanks (also called beef shins; 2 inches thick),
trimmed of excess fat
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, chopped
3 carrots, halved lengthwise, then cut diagonally into 1 1/2-inch pieces
12 cups water
3 1/2 cups low-sodium beef broth (28 fl oz)
1 lb yellow-fleshed potatoes such as Yukon Gold
1 (14-oz) can diced tomatoes in juice
1/4 lb Savoy cabbage, tough stems discarded and leaves coarsely chopped
1/4 lb green beans, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces
Preparation
Soak beans in cold water to cover by 2 inches in a bowl at room temperature at
least 8 hours, or quick-soak (see cooks' note, below). Drain in a colander.
Pat shanks dry and sprinkle with
pepper and 1 teaspoon salt. Heat oil in a wide 6- to 8-quart heavy pot over
moderately high heat until hot but not smoking, then brown shanks (in batches if
necessary), turning, about 6 minutes total, and transfer with tongs to a bowl.
Cook onion in fat remaining in pot
over moderate heat, stirring, until golden, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and
cook, stirring, 1 minute. Add browned meat along with any juices accumulated in
bowl, carrots, 8 cups water, beef broth, and remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt and
simmer, covered, until meat is very tender, about 1 1/2 hours.
Remove shanks with a slotted spoon
and transfer to a cutting board. When cool enough to handle, cut meat into
1-inch pieces, discarding bones, and return meat to soup.
Meanwhile, simmer lima beans in
remaining 4 cups water in a 4-quart saucepan, covered, until just tender, 20 to
30 minutes. Drain in colander.
Peel potatoes and cut into 1-inch
cubes, then add to soup with lima beans and tomatoes with their juice and
simmer, covered, until potatoes are tender, about 15 minutes. Add cabbage and
green beans and simmer, uncovered, until tender, about 5 minutes.
• Beans can be soaked up to 12
hours.
• To quick-soak beans: Cover beans with cold water by 2 inches in a 5- to
6-quart pot and bring to a boil, uncovered. Boil beans, uncovered, 2 minutes,
then remove from heat and let stand, uncovered, 1 hour.
• Soup is best when made 1 day ahead (to give flavors time to develop). Cool
completely, uncovered, then chill, covered. Reheat and, if necessary, thin with
water.
• Cooled soup can be frozen in an airtight container 1 month.
Makes 8 to 10 main-course servings.
Soup Recipes |
