Thursday, January 12, 2012

BEAN AND VEGETABLE WINTER SOUP

Experiencing frosty, blustery weather recently, I make a pleasing winter soup that always satisfies the call for warming solace after coming in from outdoors. We always appreciate a bracing winter soup on bitter cold days and so I wanted to share it. I don’t think anything could be finer than a bowl of this delightful stick-to-your-ribs soup with perhaps a crisp, crusty bread to chase that grey chill away. Serve a large bowl of this soup and enjoy the cordial taste of healthy vegetables and legumes that offers a welcome restorative comfort. This winter soup is so discerningly hospitable that you could revive yourself with a lunchtime bowl and have it again as a meal starter for supper.

I’m talking about the hearty, wonderful Bean and Vegetable Soup. Let’s make some and replace that bleak grimace with a smile.

Bean and Vegetable Winter Soup               serves 4

Ingredients

  • 4 medium carrots, sliced (about 2 cups)
  • 1 large onion, chopped
  • 1 stalk of celery, chopped finely (celery leaves are very good too)
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 2 cloves garlic, chopped finely


  • 2 cups diced cooked ham or smoked sausage, such as kielbasa (optionally, you could omit and substitute 1 cup of edamame for protein)
  • 3 cups of white beans, such as cannellini, Michigan whites or great northern beans (1/2 pound dried beans soaked overnight or two -15 ounce cans thoroughly rinsed and drained)
  • 3 cups (1 pound) small red or white potatoes (not russet or baking) peeled and cut into medium chunks
  • 1 quart of stock or broth (vegetable or chicken)


  • 1 cup of diced tomatoes
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • ½ teaspoon Thyme
  • 1 bay leaf
  • ½ - 1 teaspoon sugar
  • 2 teaspoons salt plus black pepper to taste

  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped


Method

  • In a suitably sized pot, fry the first three ingredients in butter (a mirepoix) until tender, stirring constantly
  • Add in the garlic and cook, stirring for 2-3 minutes.

  • If using ham or sausage, add it and cook, stirring for 2-3 minutes.
  • Add the stock, the beans and the potatoes and stir well
  • Add everything else except the parsley, cover and simmer 30 minutes
  • Check that beans, potatoes and carrots are tender, cook longer if required
  • Check for seasonings, adjust accordingly


When the soup is ready, you may want to put a ladle or so into an electric blender and cream it. Then add back to pot.

Serve in sturdy bowls and sprinkle parsley atop soup. You may also sprinkle on some grated parmesan cheese if you like.

This is a nice gratifying soup to long for on a frosty day.

Enjoy.

 

28 comments:

Joanne said...

I have a yen for soup for about a week now. This looks yummy!

Alexis AKA MOM said...

this is fabulous! I can't wait to make it! Happy New Year :)

Marian Allen said...

Um, yum! My husband is making bean-and-veg soup even as I type. His has butterbeans, potatoes, tomato sauce, cabbage and barley. AND he's making cornbread. It smells heavenly! If it doesn't get done soon, Imma eat this keyboard!

Marian Allen
Fantasies, mysteries, comedies, recipes

anthony stemke said...

JOANNE: This is a good time to enjoy soup,it's freezing outside right now.

ALEXIS AKA MOM: This soup is fabulous. It is really cold outside and when you come inside it's nice and warm and the aroma in the kitchen is very welcome.
Happy New Year to you and your family.

MARIAN ALLEN: Hey, except for cabbage I like your spouses' soup too. My recipe is not written in stone, it can be varied. I just wrote down exactly how I made it.
You lucky, cornbread is great with it too. I baked a cornbread sunday morning early, it was our turn for sunday school and I always bring something for the children.

Eat To Live said...

Perfect weather for soup!!

This recipe is great because Monday I need to go on a alkaline diet. The only thing in this soup that is iffy is the beans and I could use the baby limas which are suppose to be mildy alkaline forming.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Winter is the only time I start craving soup. Bet that one would be tasty.

Joyce said...

One of my favorite things about winter is soup...looks delicious!

anthony stemke said...

MY JOURNEY WITH CANDIDA: Can you not use navy beans or edamame? I'm sure you know best, I wish you the best. This a great time for soup.

ALEX J. CAVANAUGH: I like soup in general but wintertime is particularly good for soup.

JOYCE: In winter I like snow, I mean soup. Snow is nice when it's falling but shoveling it is quite a different matter. Soup is always good.

Whats Cookin Italian Style Cuisine said...

I actually just went out to find a bag of white beans and every bag was gone! Now I come home and see this great soup to make and will be on a quest to find more beans! nicely done~

Kalyan Panja said...

Just mouthwatering...looks so fresh & delicious!

anthony stemke said...

PEGASUSLEGEND: Every bag was gone? I only just posted this yesterday! cm But seriously, this is seriously good soup.

KALYAN P: Thank You, this soup is great in cold weather.

Alex said...

My kind of soup!
It's got beans, vegetables and everything that makes good flavor!

Cook On!

Alex

anthony stemke said...

I totally agree with you.

Dawn @ Words Of Deliciousness said...

There is nothing better on a cold winter than a nice bowl of hot soup. This one sounds delicious.

Torviewtoronto said...

filling delicious looking soup perfect for this season

Leovi said...

I like it. Yes, but I substituted the butter with olive oil.

anthony stemke said...

WORDS OF DELICIOUSNESS: That's right, frigid weather is allayed by thid wonderful, delicious soup.

TORVIEWTORONTO: Thank You Akheela.

LEOVI: Good idea, olive oil is very healthy. Next time I might use 50/50 olive oil and butter.

Anonymous said...

I read your blog on layovers while I'm snacking on Kashi bars and scribbling grocery lists.
The blintzes were fab and I'll be making soup soon! Thanks Anthony

anthony stemke said...

GENE POOL DIVA: I would recommend either high-protein or high-fibre bars, or a small bag of peanuts; but you know best Gene. Sincere Thanks for your kind comments.

Plateful said...

So apt for the season--looks mouthwatering!

Prathima Rao said...

A perfect & comforting winter soup!!!
prathima Rao
Prats Corner

Margo Kelly said...

YUM!! :)

Jayanthy Kumaran said...

interesting recipe..i'll have to giv it a go.
Tasty Appetite

anthony stemke said...

PLATEFUL: Thanks you are right on.

PRATHIMA RAO: Thank You, well said.

MARGO KELLY: Succinctly said, Thank You.

JAY: Thank You, it satisfies.

Unknown said...

That is a hearty soup - We tend to make our minestrone soup like this - we get those multi-bean bags and add veggies, pasta and the rest of it - one of our most favorite meals - this is my husband's speciality though -and I leave it to him :)

Warms the Cockles, Anthony!

anthony stemke said...

NOW SERVING: Sounds like your sp ouse is an excellent soupmaker.
I love minestras.
Yes, very warming on those brutally cold days.
Thanks.

Sensible Vegetarian said...

Super delicious soup. Thanks for your quick comments and suggestions.

anthony stemke said...

SENSIBLE VEGETARIAN: Thank You for calling.

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...