Italianstylebeansoupmix Recipes

ITALIAN MIXED BEAN SOUP

Steps:

• Pick through the dried beans and discard any shrivled or broken beans. Also watch out for tiny stones. You can use any mix of beans you like but my mix tends to inclue equal parts navy beans, pinto beans, and kidney beans.
• Put the beans in a large pot and add water enough to cover the beans by a good 3 inches. Cover and let soak for at least 8 hours or overnight. (alternately you can put the beans in a pot, cover with water, bring to a boil, cover and remove from heat, let stand for an hour. It yields a differnt texture but still yummy).
• Drain beans.
• Heat the oil in a large pot over medium heat. Saute the onions and garlic until the onion becomes translucent or about 3 minutes. Add the celery and carrots, saute another 2-3 minutes.
• Add the 8 cups of water, bouillon cubes and beans. Bring to a boil. Cover and lower heat to simmer. Simmer for 1 hour and 40 minutes.
• Add lentils, tomatoes, spinach, ground red pepper, oregano, and basil. Cover and simmer 20 minutes more.
• Both beans and lentils should be soft at this point. If they are not let them simmer longer.
• Add salt and pepper to taste.

ITALIAN STYLE BEAN SOUP MIX

Steps:

• To made the mix: layer the beans in a 1 quart jar with tight-fitting lid.
• Combine the onion, basil, bouillon cubes, parsley, garlic and pepper in a small food storage bag; close bag.
• Place the seasoning bag over the beans, spreading out bag to cover beans; add pasta shells.
• Close jar, cover top of jar with fabric; attach gift tag with raffia or ribbon.
• Attached directions to preparing soup to jar.
• Soup:.
• Remove the pasta and seasoning packet from jar; set aside.
• Place the beans in a large bowl; cover with water and soak for 6 to 8 hours or overnight.
• Drain beans; discarding the water.
• Combine the soaked beans, water, pasta sauce and contents of seasoning packet in Dutch oven.
• Bring to a boil over high heat; cover, reduce heat and simmer 2 to 2 1/2 hours or until beans are tender.
• Add the pasta and spinach; cover and simmer 15 to 20 minutes or until pasta is tender.
• Season to taste, serve with grated Parmesan cheese.

HEARTY ITALIAN WHITE BEAN SOUP

Steps:

• In a Dutch oven, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add potato and carrots; cook and stir 3 minutes. Add onion, celery, zucchini and jalapeno; cook and stir 3-4 minutes or until vegetables are crisp-tender., Stir in remaining ingredients; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, covered, 12-15 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Freeze option: Freeze cooled soup in freezer containers. To use, partially thaw in refrigerator overnight. Heat through in a saucepan, stirring occasionally; add a little broth or water if necessary.

ITALIAN BEAN SOUP

Steps:

• Rinse dry beans.
• In a Dutch oven combine rinsed beans and 5 cups cold water.
• Bring to boiling; reduce heat.
• Simmer for 10 minutes.
• Remove from heat.
• Cover and let stand for 1 hour. Drain and rinse beans.
• In a slow cooker combine beans, 4 cups water, onion, tomatoes, bouillon, garlic, the 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning, and pepper.
• Cook, covered, on high or 5-6 hours until beans are tender.
• Thaw green beans and stir into soup.
• Cook about 30 minutes more.
• Meanwhile, stir together margarine,garlic powder, Parmesan, and 1/8 teaspoon Italian seasoning.
• Spread on 1 side of each bread slice.
• Broil 4 to 5 inches from oven broiler for.
• 45 to 60 seconds or until crisp and light brown.
• Watch carefully.
• To serve, ladle soup into bowls.
• Float 2 pieces of herb toast atop each bowl of soup.
• Serve immediately with extra Parmesan.
• You can also add chopped ham, Italian sausage that you brown first, or leftover beef roast.