The traditional Tuscan bean soup does not call for carrots. I just had some on hand and added them to the soup as an experiment. There are really no rules when it comes to additions – add anything that sounds good to you and make the recipe your own!
The soup holds well in the refrigerator for many days. If you are feeding many more than four to six people, double the recipe and have some extra for later in the week!
The question I always get about soups that use beans is, "can we make this soup with canned beans?" My answer is always, "yes, you can." Nevertheless, next time plan ahead and try it with dried beans and you will realize that there is no going back!