Italian Mixed Bean Soup Recipes

ITALIAN BEAN SOUP

Steps:

• In a Dutch oven, saute the onion, potato and celery in oil until tender. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Stir in the broth, beans, tomatoes, parsley and pesto. Bring to a boil. Stir in pasta. Reduce heat; cover and simmer until pasta is tender, 10-15 minutes. , Add spinach and cook just until wilted. Sprinkle each serving with cheese.

ITALIAN MIXED BEAN SOUP

Steps:

• Pick through the dried beans and discard any shrivled or broken beans. Also watch out for tiny stones. You can use any mix of beans you like but my mix tends to inclue equal parts navy beans, pinto beans, and kidney beans.
• Put the beans in a large pot and add water enough to cover the beans by a good 3 inches. Cover and let soak for at least 8 hours or overnight. (alternately you can put the beans in a pot, cover with water, bring to a boil, cover and remove from heat, let stand for an hour. It yields a differnt texture but still yummy).
• Drain beans.
• Heat the oil in a large pot over medium heat. Saute the onions and garlic until the onion becomes translucent or about 3 minutes. Add the celery and carrots, saute another 2-3 minutes.
• Add the 8 cups of water, bouillon cubes and beans. Bring to a boil. Cover and lower heat to simmer. Simmer for 1 hour and 40 minutes.
• Add lentils, tomatoes, spinach, ground red pepper, oregano, and basil. Cover and simmer 20 minutes more.
• Both beans and lentils should be soft at this point. If they are not let them simmer longer.
• Add salt and pepper to taste.

MIXED BEAN SOUP

Steps:

• Rinse and sort beans. Place beans in a Dutch oven or soup kettle; add water to cover by 2 in. Bring to a boil; boil for 2 minutes. Remove from the heat; cover and let stand for 1 to 4 hours or until beans are softened., Drain and rinse, discarding liquid. Add water to the beans; bring to a boil. Cover and simmer for 30 minutes. Add remaining ingredients; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 1-1/2 to 2 hours or until beans are tender. Discard bay leaves.

ITALIAN BEAN SOUP WITH GREENS

Steps:

• In 5-quart Dutch oven, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add carrots, onion, celery and garlic; cook about 5 minutes, stirring frequently, until onion is tender.
• Stir in beans, tomatoes, basil, oregano, salt, pepper and broth. Cover; simmer 30 to 45 minutes or until vegetables are tender.
• Increase heat to medium; stir in spinach. Cover; cook 3 to 5 minutes longer or until spinach is wilted. Ladle soup into bowls; top each with cheese.

ITALIAN BEEF AND BEAN SOUP

Steps:

• In 1-quart resealable food-storage plastic bag, place flour, salt and pepper. Seal bag; shake until blended. Add beef; seal bag and shake until beef is evenly coated with flour mixture.
• In 3-quart heavy saucepan or Dutch oven, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add beef; cook 4 to 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until brown on all sides.
• Stir in remaining ingredients except cheese. Heat to boiling. Reduce heat; simmer uncovered 15 to 20 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Serve with cheese.

CREAMY ITALIAN WHITE BEAN SOUP

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, heat oil. Cook onion and celery in oil for 5 to 8 minutes, or until tender. Add garlic, and cook for 30 seconds, continually stirring. Stir in beans, chicken broth, pepper, thyme and 2 cups water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and then simmer for 15 minutes.
• With slotted spoon, remove 2 cups of the bean and vegetable mixture from soup and set aside.
• In blender at low speed, blend remaining soup in small batches until smooth, (it helps to remove the center piece of the blender lid to allow steam to escape.) Once blended pour soup back into stock pot and stir in reserved beans.
• Bring to a boil, occasionally stirring. Stir in spinach and cook 1 minute or until spinach is wilted. Stir in lemon juice and remove from heat and serve with fresh grated Parmesan cheese on top.

ITALIAN STYLE BEAN SOUP MIX

Steps:

• To made the mix: layer the beans in a 1 quart jar with tight-fitting lid.
• Combine the onion, basil, bouillon cubes, parsley, garlic and pepper in a small food storage bag; close bag.
• Place the seasoning bag over the beans, spreading out bag to cover beans; add pasta shells.
• Close jar, cover top of jar with fabric; attach gift tag with raffia or ribbon.
• Attached directions to preparing soup to jar.
• Soup:.
• Remove the pasta and seasoning packet from jar; set aside.
• Place the beans in a large bowl; cover with water and soak for 6 to 8 hours or overnight.
• Drain beans; discarding the water.
• Combine the soaked beans, water, pasta sauce and contents of seasoning packet in Dutch oven.
• Bring to a boil over high heat; cover, reduce heat and simmer 2 to 2 1/2 hours or until beans are tender.
• Add the pasta and spinach; cover and simmer 15 to 20 minutes or until pasta is tender.
• Season to taste, serve with grated Parmesan cheese.

HEARTY ITALIAN SAUSAGE AND BEAN SOUP

Steps:

• Heat a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Cook and stir sausage, onion, and garlic in the hot skillet until sausage is browned and crumbly, 5 to 7 minutes. Drain and discard grease.
• Add broth, black beans, butter beans, diced tomatoes, basil, and oregano; bring to a simmer. Cover and cook for at least 10 minutes.
• Sprinkle each serving with Parmesan cheese.