Ingredients:

  Amount  Measure       Ingredient -- Preparation Method
--------  ------------  --------------------------------
  1 1/2           Cups  white beans -- soaked overnight
  3        Tablespoons  olive oil
  2             Pounds  lean boneless lamb -- cut into 1-1/2"
                        -- cubes
  1                     lamb shank or lamb bones rolled in
  3        Tablespoons  seasoned flour
  4       Large   Clov  garlic -- minced
  2              Large  onions -- finely chopped
  6                     carrots -- sliced 1/2-inch
                        -- thick
  2             Stalks  celery -- chopped
  4               Cups  chicken stock
  1                     bay leaf
     1/4           Cup  chopped fresh parsley
  1 1/2    Tablespoons  chopped fresh thyme
  2          Teaspoons  chopped fresh oregano
  1           Teaspoon  chopped fresh sage
  1              Pound  bunch chard cut into 1/2"-strips -- stems chopped fine
                        Salt and freshly ground pepper
                        ***GARNISH***
                        Grated Parmesan or Asiago cheese
                        olive oil to drizzle

Preparation:

A wonderfully hearty, but not too rich dish that shows off the traditional ingredient combinations of Basque cooking. Soak beans overnight in water to cover by 3 inches. In a large Dutch oven or stock pot, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil until very hot, add lamb cubes and shank or bones that have been rolled in seasoned flour and brown on all sides and remove. Add the rest of the oil and heat, then add garlic and onions and saute over low heat, stirring occasionally, for 8 to 10 minutes. Add carrots, celery, drained beans, chicken stock, bay leaf, and reserved lamb. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer covered for about 1 hour or until beans and lamb are almost tender. Remove bay leaf and any large bones; skim off excess fat. Add parsley, thyme, oregano, and sage. Mix in chard and cook for an additional 15 minutes. Taste again for seasoning, adding salt and pepper to taste. Serve in soup bowls and garnish with Parmesan cheese and a drizzle of olive oil.

Nutritional Information:

1766 Calories (kcal); 45g Total Fat; (22% calories from fat); 83g Protein; 258g Carbohydrate; 0mg Cholesterol; 8876mg Sodium