Fantastically easy bean soup!

This bean soup is great with croutons floating in the top. And it is so easy, it's hard to believe that it tastes this great.

1 can of ready cut Italian tomatoes (drained in a sieve)
2 cans of white beans (drained in a sieve)
1 container (I buy the large soft sided ones) of chicken broth (I use Trader Joes, Wolfgang Puck, or any other quality broth)
1 packet of thinly sliced prosciutto or other Italian ham. Sometimes I also use a packet of sage sausage.
1 chopped onion
2 + cloves of garlic chopped finely
1 TBSP crushed Italian herb blend
Salt and Pepper to taste
Olive Oil (a good amount of high quality, cold pressed extra virgin)
2 or 3 Chunks of Parmesan cheese. I just knife a few off of the block. It helps to have a very dry crumbly Parmesan. The moist versions just turn into blobs but the dry ones crumble and mix in with the soup.


Slice into ribbons prosciutto and put into hot olive oil in bottom of soup pan. Cook until slightly browning...do not make crisp. Add onion, garlic, herbs, and pepper. Will be very aromatic (may drive family nuts!) Cook until onion is translucent. Add beans, tomatoes and then pour chicken broth over top. Stir until well mixed. When boiling add chunks of cheese. Turn head down and simmer for about 15 minutes. Salt to taste but you won't need much. The meat tends to salt it quite a bit and so be careful. I sometimes serve this with shredded Parmesan on top.