Spanish Pumpkin and Bean Soup

INGREDIENTS

• 1 cup dried chickpeas
• 1 cup small dried white beans, such as Great
• Northern
• 2 quarts plus 3 cups water
• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 1 large yellow onion, chopped
• 1/4 cup diced ham
• 1 Tbs. sweet paprika
• 2 tomatoes, peeled, seeded and diced
• Pinch of saffron, steeped in 1/4 cup hot chicken
• stock or water
• 12 almonds
• 1 slice bread, cut in half
• 2 garlic cloves
• 2 Tbs. sherry vinegar
• 1 1/2 cups peeled and coarsely chopped
• pumpkin or butternut squash
• 3 pears, peeled, halved, cored and cut into
• chunks
• 1/2 lb. green beans, trimmed and cut into
• 2-inch lengths
• Salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste