Creamy celery soup with white beans and pancetta
Ingredients
- 45ml (3 tbsp) olive oil
 - 50g butter
 - 1 large bulb of celery, approx 8 stalks, washed and finely sliced
 - 1 small onion, chopped
 - 2 garlic cloves, crushed
 - 200g block pancetta, cubed
 - 1 x 410g tin cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
 - 4 sprigs of fresh thyme, plus extra to serve
 - 1L (4 cups) good quality chicken stock
 - 500ml (2 cups) fresh cream
 - salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
 
Instructions
					1
					
						
				
										
						
															Heat the oil and butter in a large stock pot over medium heat and sauté the celery and onion, about 5 – 8 minutes.
					2
					
						
				
										
						
															Add the garlic and pancetta and fry for a further minute.
					3
					
						
				
										
						
															Add the beans, thyme and stock and bring to the boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer and simmer for 20 minutes.
					4
					
						
				
										
						
															Add the cream, season and heat through.
					5
					
						
				
										
						
		Serve in warm bowls with plenty of crusty bread and garnish with fresh thyme.

                                							






