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.

These Are Perfect For This Recipe

Bob Kramer Stainless Damascus Chef’s Knife by Zwilling J.A. Henckels

$450.00 - $600.00$369.95 - $489.95

SHIPS FREE

(245)

Sur La Table Stainless Steel Ladles

$25.00 - $35.00$24.96 - $34.96

BUY TWO, GET ONE FREE

(13)

Marca Verde Extra Virgin Olive Oil

$67.80$19.95 - $59.95

(146)

$15.95

(3)

Wüsthof Classic Ikon Chef’s Knife

$160.00 - $200.00

SHIPS FREE

(25)

Le Creuset Signature Round Dutch Oven, 7.25 qt.

$459.95

SHIPS FREE

(47)

All-Clad Stainless Steel Stockpot, 16 Qt.

$199.95

SHIPS FREE

(25)

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.

What kind of kale is best for soup? ›

Russian Kale

Compared to other kale varieties, Russian kales are on the tenderer, milder, and sweeter side, making them an excellent and delicious green for salads and soups.

What is the secret ingredient to thicken soup? ›

Add Flour Or Cornstarch

You can thicken soup by adding flour, cornstarch, or another starchy substitute.

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.

How do you take the bitterness out of kale soup? ›

For example, tossing in some dried fruit helps balance the bitter with some sweet. If you eat meat, you can try adding in some sausage or bacon, perhaps to a soup or stew, to cut the bitterness. Minced garlic, olive oil, and salt are also simple ingredients that can transform the flavor of a bitter kale dish.

When should I add kale to my soup? ›

Kale can be ready in as little as 5 to 30 minutes if you like it buttery tender. So it depends on your preference if you want to add it a few minutes before the soup is ready or a little earlier so that it has time to simmer and soften up.

Does kale need to be massaged for soup? ›

Massages make everyone easier to deal with, and kale is no different. Yes, I know it sounds ridiculous, but this step is a game-changer for raw or slightly cooked preparations, as it breaks down kale's cellular walls, making it much more tender.

Are white beans low carb? ›

White Beans (1 cup) contains 43.6g total carbs, 32.6g net carbs, 0.6g fat, 16.9g protein, and 242 calories.

Are white cannellini beans low carb? ›

Cannellini Beans are not keto by nature. These beans have a net carb content of 14.62 g per 100g serving. Therefore, while these beans contain a lot of protein, they do not work for a keto diet. However, you can choose either green beans or black soybeans on a strict keto diet.

How much protein is in white bean soup? ›

My white bean soup is a hearty vegan soup with 15 grams of protein per serving, thanks to those powerhouse beans! The white beans are the essence of the soup because they are naturally creamy, making the soup rich without adding any dairy.

How to thicken white beans? ›

You can use a little flour in water to thicken the soup or you can just cook the soup until some of the beans break down and this will thicken the soup. However, if you put in too much water your best bet is to simply strain some water off . You might need to reseason if you drain water off.

What are the thickening agents for 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 soup bean soup? ›

You can also thicken soup by puréeing it with cooked beans or lentils. White beans like cannellini beans or navy beans are especially good for puréeing. This recipe for Creamy Italian White Bean Soup is a great place to start. Puréeing hearty winter vegetables like butternut and kabocha squash will also do the trick.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Msgr. Benton Quitzon

Last Updated:

Views: 6157

Rating: 4.2 / 5 (63 voted)

Reviews: 94% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Msgr. Benton Quitzon

Birthday: 2001-08-13

Address: 96487 Kris Cliff, Teresiafurt, WI 95201

Phone: +9418513585781

Job: Senior Designer

Hobby: Calligraphy, Rowing, Vacation, Geocaching, Web surfing, Electronics, Electronics

Introduction: My name is Msgr. Benton Quitzon, I am a comfortable, charming, thankful, happy, adventurous, handsome, precious person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.