White beans, be they navy beans, yankee beans, great northern beans, are great in soup. This is my really simple fast recipe for white beans. This can be cooked with canned beans or dry beans. Dry beans take longer, but if you have time, great. I use a pressure cooker to cook my dry beans.
Being a strong proponent of the KISS [keep it simple stupid] theory of life, this soup is a charter member. Beans, onions, garlic, olive oil – cook and you are done.
The version we do here is dressed up a bit with cheese rinds and oregano, but again, it doesn’t need this to taste great on a fall evening.
White Bean Soup
Bag of White Beans or a large can of beans
1 onion, chopped
Chopped Garlic
Options:
Chicken or vegetable stock
Cheese rinds
Oregano, Marjoram, Rosemary, Sage
Pesto
If you have dry beans, cook them and save the cooking water.
Saute the onion until golden clear.
Add the beans, and bring to a simmer.
If desired, add seasonings and cheese rinds.
If you have the time, allow the beans to simmer so the flavorings work thru the soup.
If not, after 10 minutes, its done.
For a decadent flourish, add a splash of olive oil or pesto to each bowl just before serving.
Ginger
Paste sandwiches–sounds like something we would have liked in kindergarten…lol. Actually I hadn’t thought of using leftovers to make any sort of beandip/spread. I have used the left overs to make homemade baked beans though.
Linda Hardesty
You have inspired me to make this soup. In fact, the beans are cooking in the pressure cooker right now, with the other ingredients waiting to be mixed in with the cooked beans so we can enjoy this soup for dinner tonight. I’ll post the end result, but I wanted to say that this easy, healthy recipe looks like something we will enjoy on many cold winter and fall days in the future. Thanks for sharing!
Linda Hardesty
Two comments on the bean soup with kale recipe. My first comment, it’s a great way to cook beans with your pressure cooker. I have used a pressure cooker for years and never thought to us it for beans. It worked perfectly. My second comment is about the recipe itself. My husband said “this is the best bean soup I have ever eaten” and I have to second that. It’s a simple soup, easy to make, very healthy and absolutely delicious. In addition, it is a cost effective recipe. As Eric would say, “what’s not to like?” I intend to try other recipes you have offered on your podcast. I just found your podcast and website, so I’m a bit behind on trying the recipes, but I can honestly say it’s so refreshing to find someone who enjoys cooking simple food with simple ingredients.
Eric Gunnar Rochow
hey thanks again for the comments, glad you liked it. there’s a list of all the episodes in the top menu bar of the site if you like. eric
Bernard G.
Awesome recipe! I tweaked it a little by adding Italian sausage…YUMMO!
Please cranking out more Gardenfork!! Hi to the fam & the pups!
BG
Bernard G.
Still such a good soup! Made it again last night!