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!

How do you thicken up bean soup? ›

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.

How do you thicken white bean and ham soup? ›

Another way to add thickness and flavor to your ham and bean soup is by pureeing some vegetables. This works well with cooked potatoes, carrots, or even a combination of both. Use a blender or immersion blender to puree the vegetables until smooth. Add the puree back into the soup and heat it through.

What 2 ingredients are used to thicken the soup? ›

The most classic and surefire way to thicken a broth-based soup is with a cornstarch slurry. Whisk together equal parts cornstarch (or arrowroot) and water or broth, then whisk it into the pot of soup. A good ratio to get to a pleasant thickness without your soup tasting goopy or heavy is one tablespoon.

Is it better to thicken soup with flour or cornstarch? ›

It's important to note that cornstarch has twice the thickening power of flour. If you need to substitute cornstarch to thicken liquid in a recipe that calls for ¼ cup (four tablespoons) flour, you only need two tablespoons cornstarch.

What if my bean soup needs more flavor? ›

Garlic and onions will bolster the taste of bean soup. Be sure to take a portion of the beans and mash or purée them for extra texture. Aromatics like celery or carrot will add more complex flavor notes. Despite being expensive, both mushrooms and Parmesan cheese will add some real umami (i.e., mouth feel) to the soup.

Why is my bean soup not thick? ›

Use Cornstarch or Arrowroot Powder

If you're looking for a gluten-free option to thicken your bean soup, cornstarch or arrowroot powder can be excellent substitutes. In a small bowl, mix a tablespoon of cornstarch or arrowroot powder with some cold water until it forms a smooth paste.

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

(Organic*) Filtered water, Navy beans, Onion, Carrots, Potatoes, Celery, Tomatoes, Kale, Olive oil, Balsamic vinegar, Sea salt, White wine, Chickpea 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.

Is bean soup high in carbs? ›

Bean Soup (1 cup) contains 18.3g total carbs, 10.2g net carbs, 3.7g fat, 6.3g protein, and 132 calories.

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.

What does cornstarch do to soup? ›

Cornstarch, or corn flour, can be used to thicken soup through its high starch content. Cornstarch is a great thickener for soup because only a little bit is needed to significantly thicken a soup, and it will not affect the flavor profile of the soup.

What is the best soup thickener? ›

Whisking beurre manié (butter-flour paste) into simmering soup is the best way to thicken an otherwise too-watery soup. Add bits of the paste gradually and simmer to cook out any raw flour taste. The broth will be velvety smooth, rich, and thick.

How do you thicken white beans? ›

Either drain off some of the excess liquid, add a thickener such as a starch slurry, or simply cook the beans longer until the liquid reduces out.

What is the best ingredient to thicken soup? ›

We'll break down the best thickeners to use for any variety of soup you wish to make.
  • Add thickness with a flour slurry. ...
  • Cornstarch should be your thickener of choice. ...
  • Red beans or lentils can thicken a pureed soup. ...
  • Bring the magic of risotto with arborio rice. ...
  • Use pasta starch in a couple of different ways.
Jun 16, 2023

Does bean soup thicken on its own? ›

Rice, lentils, and beans release a lot of starch and naturally thicken soups simply from simmering, but you can also mash half the cooked rice/lentils/beans before adding to the soup for a simple way to thicken your dish. Alternatively, blend half or all of the soup for a smoother texture.

How do you thicken white bean paste? ›

Transfer the bean paste to a small saucepan. Heat over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Continue to stir occasionally to avoid browning the bean paste. Your goal is to evaporate enough water to thicken the paste.

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