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Legume Soup

17/11/2023

Legume soup is a nutritious and comforting dish, perfect for cold days or when you want a meal full of good nutrients. With an Italian base, we’ll use a mix of dried legumes, which may include lentils, chickpeas, cannellini beans, and borlotti beans. We add a touch of Italian flavor with some good extra virgin olive oil, tomatoes, and aromatic herbs.

Here is the recipe for a classic legume soup:

Ingredients

  • 300 g of mixed dried legumes (such as lentils, chickpeas, borlotti beans, cannellini beans)
  • 2 liters of water or vegetable broth
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 2 carrots, diced
  • 2 celery stalks, diced
  • 1 garlic clove, chopped
  • 400 g of canned peeled tomatoes or tomato puree
  • 2 bay leaves
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Extra virgin olive oil
  • A bunch of fresh aromatic herbs (such as rosemary, thyme, parsley)
  • (Optional) croutons or grated Parmesan cheese to serve

Preparation

  1. If you are using dried legumes, soak them in cold water for at least 8-10 hours or overnight to soften them. After soaking, drain and rinse them.

  2. In a large pot, heat the olive oil and add the onion, carrots, celery, and garlic. Sauté until the onion becomes translucent, then add the drained legumes.

  3. Add the water or vegetable broth, tomatoes, bay leaves, a pinch of salt, and pepper. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat.

  4. Simmer for about 1-2 hours, or until the legumes are tender. During cooking, taste and adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper according to taste.

  5. Once the legumes are cooked, you can remove the bay leaves and add the chopped fresh aromatic herbs.

  6. Serve hot, with a drizzle of raw extra virgin olive oil, and if you wish, with croutons or a sprinkle of grated Parmesan cheese.

Curiosities

Legume soup is an ancient dish that has variants in many Italian regions, often linked to traditions and typical legumes of the place. In some versions, to enrich the soup, a piece of pork rind or raw ham is also added to flavor the broth during cooking. Moreover, it is considered a “poor” but healthy dish, thanks to the high presence of fibers, vegetable proteins, and microelements.

Legume Soup