Serbian bean soup à la Didi

Ingredients for 4 servings:

• 2 slice(s) bacon, streaky
• 100 g smoked pork breast (thick rib)
• 20 small cabanossi (mini cabanossi)
• 2 m.-sized onion(s)
• 1 leek(s)
• ¼ celeriac
• 1 can of tomatoes, peeled, 400 g each
• 1 jar white beans, 850 ml each
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• 4 tsp sweet paprika powder
• ½ tsp salt
• ½ tsp pepper
• ½ tsp cayenne pepper
• ½ tsp thyme
• 2 tsp herbs de Provence
• 1 tbsp sunflower oil for frying
• 20 g butter for frying

Instructions

Working time approx. 15 minutes; Cooking/baking time approx. 50 minutes; Total time approx. 1 hour 5 minutes

Cut the bacon and thick rib into small strips. Halve the mini Cabanossi, then quarter the halves. Peel and slice the celery. Cut the slices into strips and the ribs into cubes. Peel and finely dice the onions. Wash the leek, remove the root, and slice the leek. Heat the oil and butter in a saucepan. Sauté the onion and add the bacon. Sprinkle both with paprika and deglaze with the tomatoes. Add the white beans, thick rib, and Cabanossi. Stir in the tomato paste and add the leek and celery. Add a little water. The soup should not be too thin, but also not as thick as a pudding. Season the bean soup with herbs and spices and simmer gently for about 45 minutes.