02/04/2024
Beans Soup
Ingredients:
1. 1 pound (about 450g) dried beans (such as navy beans, black beans, or kidney beans)
2. 1 onion, diced
3. 2 carrots, diced
4. 2 stalks celery, diced
5. 3 cloves garlic, minced
6. 6 cups (1.4 liters) vegetable or chicken broth
7. 1 bay leaf Salt and pepper to taste
8. Optional: chopped fresh herbs (such as parsley or thyme) for garnish.
Instructions:
1. Rinse the dried beans under cold water and pick out any debris.
2. Soak the beans overnight in a large bowl of water.
3. Alternatively, you can do a quick soak by placing the beans in a pot, covering them with water, bringing to a boil, then removing from heat and letting them soak for 1 hour.
4. Drain and rinse the soaked beans.
5. In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat some oil over medium heat.
6. Add the diced onion, carrots, and celery.
7. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are softened, about 5-7 minutes.
8. Add the minced garlic and cook for an additional 1-2 minutes.
9. Add the soaked and drained beans to the pot, along with the vegetable or chicken broth and bay leaf.
10. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and let it simmer, partially covered, until the beans are tender, about 1 to 1 1/2 hours, depending on the type of beans used.
11. Once the beans are tender, remove the bay leaf and season the soup with salt and pepper to taste.
12. If you prefer a thicker soup, you can use an immersion blender to blend a portion of the soup until smooth, or you can simply mash some of the beans against the side of the pot with a spoon.
13. Serve the bean soup hot, garnished with chopped fresh herbs if desired. Enjoy!
Feel free to adjust the ingredients and seasonings to suit your taste preferences!