Tomato Basil Bean Soup

[Guest guest]

Tomato Basil Bean Soup

 

Make this soup in a crock pot while you are out during the day and come home

to a steaming meal. In the summer, use garden fresh basil, spinach, onions,

and tomatoes to create a flavor that can only be described as divine.

 

In the winter, use canned tomatoes along with fresh ingredients and make

this fabulous vegetarian soup on cold nights to keep warm.

 

Prep time: 10 min; Total time: Two days(if using dry beans, but don't let

that scare you)

 

Ingredients

 

a.. 1 medium onion, chopped

b.. 2 cloves garlic, minced

c.. 2 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil

d.. 1 c. diced tomatoes with juice (or 1 can)

e.. 4 c. vegetable broth (or 2 cans)

f.. 1 c. kidney beans (or 1 can, rinsed and drained)

g.. 1 bay leaf (optional)

h.. Large handful fresh basil

i.. Large handful fresh baby spinach (optional)

j.. 3 tbsp. parmesan, grated (optional)

k.. Pasta, cooked (optional)

l.. Salt and pepper, to taste

 

Boil your dried beans in water for 5 minutes the night before. Discard the

water and then soak your beans (in new water) overnight. Change the soak

water once while beans are soaking and discard soak water before beginning

to make your soup.

 

In the morning, toss beans, onions, garlic, olive oil, broth, bay leaf, and

tomatoes in your crock pot on low.

 

At dinner time, make pasta in a separate pot. Then add pasta, basil, and

spinach to your soup. Garnish with fresh ground pepper and parmesan cheese.

 

Tips

This soup is packed with superfoods: tomatoes, spinach, and beans. To add

another superfood, serve your soup with warm whole grain bread (or choose

whole grain pasta).

 

My favorite types of pasta to use in this soup are small noodles, such as

farfalle (bowties) or macaroni. Or, you can serve it with brown rice,

barley, or orzo.

 

Try using other kinds of beans, such as cannelini, Great Northern, or lima

beans.

 

Add whatever kinds of vegetables you have in your kitchen. Try adding

additional herbs, too (parsley would taste great!).

 

Canned beans, canned tomatoes, and vegetable broth all contain high amounts

of sodium. If you can, use dried beans and fresh tomatoes to cut minimize

the sodium content of this soup.

[Guest guest]

, " wwjd " <jtwigg wrote:

>

> Tomato Basil Bean Soup

 

 

Sounds wonderful!

 

Deb in Idaho