Let's Do Lunch tm WHITE BEAN SOUP...YOU'LL BECOME ADDICTED!

[Deborah D.]

SherAnna07 The last part of the recipe

Remove from heat.  You want the soup to be a thick consistency with a few of the beans still remaining whole, so use a potato masher...leaving some big bean pieces. Add water for desired thickness.

so you can make it as thick or thin as you want.

Deborah D.

[marysimmons]

I always add water when I'm making this, and the recipe as I originally posted it definitely had water added.  Roger's wife makes it without water, so he changed it to her instructions because that's the way he eats it at home.  That's the great thing about these things.  Deborah's right.  You can make the soups as thick or thin as you want, and with this one, all you have to do is add a cup or two of water to taste.

Happy eating!

Little Mary

[SherAnna07]

Thank you Deborah and Mary! I'm going to make this soup for dinner tomorrow night.

[jaydensmommy]

I stumbled on white bean soup by accident today.  I didn't have the mashed potato recipe which I was going to make to go with my chicken, and did't have butter beans.  I used white beans and pureed them with my ninja and added chicken broth (must have added too much which made the consistency a bit thin).  So, I decided white bean soup it was.  I added a little salt and some pepper and nuked it in the microwave and it was delicious. 

Next time, I think I'll go with your recipe, and add the onion and garlic.  I bet it will be even better.

[julie409]

HI Mary,

I have been having some issues with soups bc of all the additives.  Do you have a suggestion of what to add if I do not use a bouillon cube?  I have started making my own stock to make sure I know what is in it. Any seasonings I  should add or just more of what I already have in the stock- cumin, pepper, sage? I would like to try this now that I have finally figured out what  my issues are. Hopefully no new ones will crop us.

Thanks!

Julie

[tonz2day]

Oh my word!  I tried this yesterday for the first time and it is fabulous!  I know I'll make this more often.  Matter-of-fact, I think this will be my go to in place of mashed potatoes.  I didn't particularly like the recipe for the Bill's Mashed Potatoes. 

Julie, since I'm not much of a cook I can't answer your question, sorry!  I'm one of those cooks that does exactly what is written as ingredients.

[marysimmons]

Glad you like it, Tonz!  Julie, just use a bit of your homemade stock, and I know you'll be just fine.  I personally like a lot of rosemary with canellini beans, so if you have some of that, make sure you put some in.  Enjoy! 

Little Mary

[julie409]

Thanks Mary, I appreciate the tip. I will try it this week. 

Hi Tonz! I used to follow as planned unless it was Italian - there I felt more comfortable. But since I have been watching so much Food Network, I feel like I can see a pattern in the seasonings and pairings and have become more adventurous.  The trick for me is to write it down for next time - duh!

Julie

[L8EEBug]

Can someone tell me about these mixed italian herbs everyone is including in recipes?  Would I look for them in the spice section?  Thanks for the help....I really wanna make this white bean soup this weekend, have my white beans soaking and ready!!!

[marysimmons]

Can someone tell me about these mixed italian herbs everyone is including in recipes? 

Yes, in the grocery store rack of herbs in little bottles or jars, you can frequently find a blend just called "mixed Italian herbs."  It's not one of those spice mixes that has salt and garlic and dried peppers or other additives in it.  It's just some dried herbs--typically oregano, basil, parsley, etc.  (Remember the Simon & Garfunkle song "Scarboro Fair" with its parsley, sage, rosemary & thyme?  That would work just fine!  LOL!)  You don't have to go out and buy mixed Italian Herbs if you don't have any.  Just sprinkle an equivalent amount of whichever herbs you have on hand, and it will be great.

Happy Eating!

Little Mary

[wendysgoodnews]

Yes the Italian spices are found in the spice section.  Alot of times you can buy it in a larger bottle then other spices.  If you have a dollar store or Big Lots they alot of times carry popular spices in large containers.

[WOOJNOCK48]

I don't use bouillion cubes because of MSG, any suggestions. 

[marysimmons]

Sure!  Just use some fat-free chicken or vegetable broth or stock in lieu of the water and bouillon cube.  Easy peasy. 

Little Mary

[robie]

Is it alright to add chopped chicken to this soup recipe? I have a white bean recipe that calls for chicken and green chilis -it is awesome and addictive.

[CodingQueen]

robie,

You can add chopped chicken breast (it has the least amount of fat), turkey or lean ground meat to any of the recipes. That's what's so nice about LDL. You can make it to your liking and, therefore, be able to stick with the program and lose weight.

CQ