Soup with bacon, white beans, and salad

Description

A hearty first course. Heat the oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the bacon and cook, stirring, until crispy, about 12 minutes. Transfer to a plate. Add onion and shallot to the pot, cook, stirring, until onion becomes translucent and soft, about 8 minutes. Add garlic and cook for 1 more minute. Return bacon to the pot, add chicken broth, beans, thyme, cayenne pepper, 1 teaspoon salt, and pepper. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover with a lid, and simmer for 30 minutes. Continue cooking until the beans are tender, about 1 1/2 hours. Add lettuce. Cook for 2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper, then serve. The soup is ready to serve.

Instructions