Hearty Vegetable & Bean Soup

1. 1
   prep

   Soak the beans overnight.

   Rinse the dried kidney beans and cannellini beans. Place them in a large bowl, cover with plenty of water, and let soak for at least 8 hours or overnight. Drain and rinse before using.

   TIPIf you forget to soak overnight, use the quick-soak method: boil beans for 2 minutes, cover, and let sit for 1 hour, then drain.
2. 2
   saute · ~8 min

   Sauté the aromatic base.

   1.Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat.

   2.Add diced onion, carrot, and celery. Cook until softened (5–7 minutes).

   3.Add minced garlic, dried thyme, and dried oregano. Sauté until fragrant (1 minute).

   TIPKeep the heat medium — garlic burns quickly and turns bitter.
3. 3
   boil · ~5 min

   Add beans, vegetables, and water. Bring to a boil.

   1.Add the soaked and drained beans, diced tomatoes, cubed potato, bay leaf, and water to the pot.

   2.Stir in the salt.

   3.Bring the soup to a rolling boil over high heat.
4. 4
   simmer · ~40 min

   Simmer until beans are tender.

   1.Reduce the heat to low, cover the pot with a lid, and let it simmer gently.

   2.Cook for 35–40 minutes, or until the beans and potato are fork-tender.

   3.Stir occasionally to prevent sticking.

   TIPIf the soup thickens too much, add a splash of hot water to reach your desired consistency.
5. 5
   simmer · ~10 min

   Add zucchini and finish cooking.

   1.Stir in the diced zucchini during the last 8–10 minutes of cooking.

   2.Simmer uncovered until the zucchini is tender but not mushy.

   3.Remove the bay leaf and discard.

   TIPAdding zucchini late keeps it from turning to mush — it should have a slight bite.
6. 6
   mix · ~1 min

   Season with black pepper and lemon juice.

   Stir in the freshly ground black pepper and lemon juice. Taste and adjust salt if needed.

   TIPThe lemon juice brightens the whole soup — don't skip it.
7. 7
   garnish

   Ladle into bowls, garnish with parsley, and serve hot.

   TIPServe with a slice of crusty whole-grain bread for a complete, satisfying meal.

Cuisines we love