Kale and White Bean Soup Recipe | Sur La Table (2024)

By Tested and perfected in the Sur la Table kitchen

Images

Serves

Makes 6 servings

Ingredients

  • 8 ounces dried white beans, such as cannellini beans or Great Northern
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
  • 1 large carrot, ¼-inch dice
  • 1-½ pounds sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into ½-inch dice
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 tablespoon fresh, minced thyme (if using dried thyme, use 1 teaspoon)
  • 6 cups vegetable stock, low-sodium
  • 4 cups kale (preferably lacinato), stems and center ribs discarded and leaves coarsely chopped
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

Procedure

Snuggle up to this hearty and nutritious vegetarian soup, delicious on its own or as a starter for a special fall meal.

To soak the dried white beans: There are 2 methods you may choose to use. To soak overnight, rinse the beans and place in a large bowl and cover with cold water, cover with plastic wrap and leave at room temperature for at least 4 hours or overnight. Drain and rinse the beans again prior to use. Alternatively, there is a quicker method. Rinse the beans, place in a saucepan, covered with an inch of water and bring to a boil. Boil for a few minutes and leave the beans to soak for about an hour off the heat, until the beans are puffed. Add fresh water and continue to cook the beans until soft, about 60 to 90 minutes. For every 1 cup of uncooked beans you will need 3 cups of water.

To prepare the soup: Place a large, heavy bottomed saucepan on the stove over medium-high heat and add the oil. When the oil is shimmering, add the onion and, carrot and cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are tender, about 6 minutes. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Stir in the sweet potatoes and cook until coated in the aromatics, about 2 minutes.

Drain and rinse the soaked beans and transfer to the saucepan until well coated in the vegetables, about 2 minutes. Use a wooden spoon to stir in bay leaf and thyme.

Add the stock, until the beans are well covered in liquid. Bring the liquid to a boil. Reduce to a simmer, cover and cook until the beans are tender, about 45 minutes. If beans are not tender, let simmer on stove for another 10 to 15 minutes.

When the beans are tender, stir in the kale and simmer until tender, about 8 minutes. Taste and season with salt and pepper.

By Tested and perfected in the Sur la Table kitchen

Serves

Makes 6 servings

Ingredients

  • 8 ounces dried white beans, such as cannellini beans or Great Northern
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
  • 1 large carrot, ¼-inch dice
  • 1-½ pounds sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into ½-inch dice
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 tablespoon fresh, minced thyme (if using dried thyme, use 1 teaspoon)
  • 6 cups vegetable stock, low-sodium
  • 4 cups kale (preferably lacinato), stems and center ribs discarded and leaves coarsely chopped
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

Procedure

Snuggle up to this hearty and nutritious vegetarian soup, delicious on its own or as a starter for a special fall meal.

To soak the dried white beans: There are 2 methods you may choose to use. To soak overnight, rinse the beans and place in a large bowl and cover with cold water, cover with plastic wrap and leave at room temperature for at least 4 hours or overnight. Drain and rinse the beans again prior to use. Alternatively, there is a quicker method. Rinse the beans, place in a saucepan, covered with an inch of water and bring to a boil. Boil for a few minutes and leave the beans to soak for about an hour off the heat, until the beans are puffed. Add fresh water and continue to cook the beans until soft, about 60 to 90 minutes. For every 1 cup of uncooked beans you will need 3 cups of water.

To prepare the soup: Place a large, heavy bottomed saucepan on the stove over medium-high heat and add the oil. When the oil is shimmering, add the onion and, carrot and cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are tender, about 6 minutes. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Stir in the sweet potatoes and cook until coated in the aromatics, about 2 minutes.

Drain and rinse the soaked beans and transfer to the saucepan until well coated in the vegetables, about 2 minutes. Use a wooden spoon to stir in bay leaf and thyme.

Add the stock, until the beans are well covered in liquid. Bring the liquid to a boil. Reduce to a simmer, cover and cook until the beans are tender, about 45 minutes. If beans are not tender, let simmer on stove for another 10 to 15 minutes.

When the beans are tender, stir in the kale and simmer until tender, about 8 minutes. Taste and season with salt and pepper.

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Kale and White Bean Soup Recipe | Sur La Table (2024)

FAQs

What is the thickener in a white bean soup? ›

What is the thickener in a white bean soup? In this recipe, what really thickens up the soup is the 15 oz of white beans that you are mashing and the starches from the potatoes. We aren't using cornstarch or a thickening agent in this recipe, it really doesn't need it!

What does vinegar do to bean soup? ›

Wait until the beans are tender but not quite done to add a splash of apple cider vinegar and a couple teaspoons of salt to the pot. The apple cider vinegar breaks down indigestible sugars to help digestion and also brightens the flavor of the beans without the need for excess salt.

How do you thicken white bean and ham soup? ›

Step 2: Thicken the soup.

Sprinkle in flour then cook for 1 minute stirring constantly. The addition of flour to the Ham and Bean Soup will give it a nice velvety texture.

What is the secret ingredient to thicken soup? ›

Add Flour Or Cornstarch

Instead, ladle a small amount of broth into a separate bowl and let it cool. Add a few tablespoons of flour or cornstarch to the bowl and whisk until it's blended smooth. Next, bring the soup to a simmer and add the mixture back to the pot. Pro tip: Don't dump in the entire mixture at once.

What if my bean soup needs more flavor? ›

A few great choices are thyme, bay leaf, parsley, and rosemary. 4. Try adding some acidity. A splash of lemon juice or a tablespoon of white wine vinegar can brighten the flavors of the soup.

Why do you put baking soda in bean soup? ›

Baking soda creates an alkaline environment which reduces soaking and cooking time and preserves the beans' skin.

How do you get the gas out of bean soup? ›

While not every recipe calls for soaking beans before cooking them, if beans give you gas, soaking can help. Soaking overnight and then discarding the soaking water leaches out sugars in beans that are responsible for gas production.

What can I put in beans to prevent gas? ›

To cut down on the gassy properties, you can add a little baking soda to your recipe. The baking soda helps break down some of the beans' natural gas-making sugars. I tested this while fixing one of my favorite slow cooker recipes: red beans and sausage.

What are the ingredients in Allen Tuscan white bean and kale soup? ›

Ingredients. [Organic*], water, white beans*, onion*, carrots*, potatoes*, celery*, tomatoes*, kale*, olive oil*, balsamic vinegar*, sea salt, white wine, chick pea flour*, agave syrup*, tapioca starch*, leeks, garlic*, black pepper*, spices*, turmeric*.

Is White Bean keto friendly? ›

Beans are linked to health benefits, including a lower risk of chronic diseases such as obesity, cardiovascular issues, and type 2 diabetes. However, beans aren't the best choice for a strict keto diet because of their carbohydrate content. You could include them in small amounts or when keto cycling.

How much protein is in white bean soup? ›

Table of Contents. My white bean soup is a hearty vegan soup with 15 grams of protein per serving, thanks to those powerhouse beans!

Can you use instant mashed potatoes to thicken bean soup? ›

This soup-thickening hack couldn't be easier. Unlike using flour, which requires either making a little roux before you start cooking or a beurre manié afterwards, or using a cornstarch slurry that can create a gloppy texture, the instant mashed potato flakes can simply be sprinkled into the finished dish.

Why is my bean soup so watery? ›

To thicken the broth in bean soup, you can try the following methods: Mashing a Portion of Beans: Gently mash a portion of the cooked beans against the side of the pot. This releases starches, naturally thickening the broth. Be careful not to overdo it; you still want to maintain the soup's texture.

What to add to bland bean soup? ›

Before serving, season with additional salt, to taste.
  1. Spices. A blend of favorites to give the soup big-time flavor, including smoked paprika. ...
  2. Fire-Roasted Tomatoes. One of my pantry staples! ...
  3. Red Wine Vinegar. For a touch of acid and brightness. ...
  4. Parmesan Cheese. The perfect finish for a touch of creaminess.
Feb 16, 2024

How do you thicken white beans? ›

If your beans are still too watery after prolonged cooking and mashing, consider adding a thickener like cornstarch, all-purpose flour, or arrowroot. To do this, first, make a slurry of equal parts thickener and water, then slowly add it to your refried beans. They should thicken considerably.

How do you thicken bean soup? ›

In a separate bowl, dissolve a teaspoon or two of cornstarch or all-purpose flour in a small amount of cold water. Add the slurry to the bubbling soup. The soup should thicken up. Add more cornstarch or flour as needed until the soup reaches your desired consistency.

What can I use to thicken soup beans? ›

And starches are the most common and effective thickening agents in cooking—think of corn starch, the flour in a roux, or how grains like oats, rice, and porridge thicken when cooked in water.

How do you thicken white beans without cornstarch? ›

All-purpose flour: You can thicken sauces with all-purpose wheat flour. For every tablespoon of cornstarch, use three tablespoons of flour. Combine raw flour with cold water in a small bowl to form a paste, then add it into the sauce as it's simmering. Cooking the flour in the sauce will remove the flour taste.

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