Borlotti Bean, Tuscan Cabbage and Fregolone Soup

Legumes, such as borlotti beans, lentils and chickpeas, need to be cooked over very low heat otherwise they’ll be tough. It’s also important to rest dishes such as soups before serving them; when I take a pot of soup off the heat to rest it, I partially cover it so the steam can still escape. Cavolo nero (sometimes called Tuscan cabbage), is a member of the cabbage family with thick, curly dark green leaves. It is becoming more widely available in greengrocers.