8 ounces dried cannellini beans, soaked overnight in cold water to cover (Or 1-15 ounce can of drained and rinsed cannellini beans)*
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 carrots, roughly chopped
1/2 white onion, roughly chopped
2 stalks of celery, roughly chopped
2 russet potatoes, peeled and diced into 1/2-inch pieces
1 bunch Tuscan kale or regular kale, leaves, removed and roughly chopped
1/2 head savoy cabbage, roughly chopped
1 (15 ounce) can whole peeled tomatoes
1/2 pound stale country style bread (I used 1/3 of a loaf of Parmesan bread), cut into cubes
Rinse and drain the soaked beans. Bring a medium-sized, heavy-bottomed pot full of water to a boil. Add the beans, making sure they're covered by a few inches of water, and reduce the heat to medium-low. Cook for at least 1 hour, salting the water after 40 minutes, until tender. Drain the beans and set aside.
In an 8-quart pot, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat until hot. Add the carrots, onion, and celery and saute' for 8 to 10 minutes, or until soft and translucent but not golden. Add the potatoes, kale and cabbage and saute' for about 5 minutes, until the cabbage is wilted.
Add the tomatoes, breaking them up with a wooden spoon and the drained beans. Add enough water to cover the ingredients, bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium-low. Season with salt and pepper to taste and simmer for 1 hour and 30 minutes, until it thickens considerably.
Add the bread and continue cooking for another 30 minutes , until the crust of the bread begins falling apart.* If using canned beans add them when you add the bread.
Serve in bowls with an extra drizzle of olive oil. Serves 6.