St. Joseph’s Day Soup Recipe with Crispy Homemade Olive Oil Croutons

Ingredients

• 4 ounces dried garbanzo beans (chickpeas)
• 4 ounces dried cannellini beans
• 4 ounces dried, peeled fava beans
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• ½ cup finely chopped onion
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 medium fennel bulb, fronds removed and thinly sliced
• 2 medium carrots, peeled and finely diced
• 8 ounces red or pink lentils
• 1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes with juice
• ½ cup Chianti wine, optional
• 8 to 10 cups vegetable stock, as needed
• 2 teaspoons dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 4 ounces cleaned escarole, roughly cut into 1-inch pieces
• Parmesan rind is optional but you’ll enjoy that extra flavor!
• Salt and black pepper to taste
• 2 to 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 cups bread cubes made from good-quality Italian bread