Friulian Bean and Sauerkraut Soup

I had this somewhat unlikely-sounding soup, called jota in Friulian dialect, in Trieste, in the far northeastern part of Italy. The city has alternately been part of Slovenia or Italy for centuries (it’s a border town), thus this very Slavic-looking soup of sauerkraut, potatoes, and beans. I know it sounds weird, but once you try it, you’ll be hooked. Not overtly sauerkraut-y and perfectly hearty without being heavy, it’s just the thing for a snowy evening. The soup can be made vegan