Fasolatha - White Bean And Tomato Soup

Name: Fasolatha - White Bean And Tomato Soup
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 2 h
Total time: 2 h 5 min
Cuisine: Greek
Ingredients: 500 grams /17.6 dried Cannellini beans (or other small white beans); 2 ½ liters (10 cups) boiling hot water ((or half water and half vegetable stock)); 160 grams (1 large) onion (finely chopped); 1 bay leaf; 2 carrots (sliced ½ cm (¼ inch thick) ); 150 grams (1 + ½ cups) chopped celery ((include some of the leaves as well)); 150 grams (medium-large) extra ripe tomato (hand grated, skin discarded); 1 tablespoon tomato paste; 160 ml (⅔ cup) extra virgin olive oil (+ a bit extra to serve with); freshly ground pepper; OPTIONAL: hot red pepper flakes or 1 small chili pepper