Heirloom Bean Soup
A creamy soup made with heirloom beans discovered in an estate auction, rich with herbs and vegetables. This french-inspired soups (vegetarian) ready in about 130 minutes pairs soaked overnight heirloom beans, large, diced carrots, stalks, diced celery for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 180 calories and feeds 6, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 500g, soaked overnight heirloom beans
- 2 large, diced carrots
- 2 stalks, diced celery
- 1 large, diced onion
- 3 cloves, minced garlic
- 6 cups vegetable broth
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp thyme
- 1 bay leaf
Instructions
- Step 1: In a large pot, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add onion, carrots, celery, and garlic. Sauté for 5-7 minutes until softened.
- Step 2: Add soaked beans, vegetable broth, thyme, and bay leaf. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Simmer for 1.5-2 hours until beans are tender.
- Step 3: Use an immersion blender to puree soup until smooth. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Step 4: Let cool slightly before serving. Garnish with fresh thyme if desired.
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Heirloom Bean Soup take to make?
Total time is about 130 minutes (10 min prep + 120 min cook). Most home cooks find this fits comfortably into a weeknight; double the batch on Sunday for two dinners.
How do I store leftover Heirloom Bean Soup?
Cool to room temperature within 2 hours, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat covered in a 350°F oven for 10-12 minutes, or microwave at 70% power in 60-second bursts to keep large, diced carrots from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in Heirloom Bean Soup?
Yes — most ingredients in this recipe have flexible swaps. For oil, use any neutral high-smoke-point oil (avocado, grapeseed, refined coconut). For aromatics, dried herbs at ⅓ the volume of fresh work in a pinch. The full ingredient list is shoppable on Instacart so you can see substitutes in real time.
How do I scale Heirloom Bean Soup for a different number of people?
The recipe is written for 6 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 6). Cook time stays roughly the same up to 2x; for 3-4x batches, switch from a skillet to a sheet pan or stockpot so the food isn't crowded — overcrowding steams instead of browns.
Is Heirloom Bean Soup vegetarian?
Yes — this recipe is tagged vegetarian based on its ingredient list. Always cross-check labels for packaged ingredients (sauces, broths, condiments) since formulations vary by brand.
What others are saying
- ★★★★★
The aroma while cooking this was absolutely heavenly.
- ★★★★☆
Good flavors but the sauce was a bit thin. I'd reduce it longer.
- ★★★★☆
Good flavors but the sauce was a bit thin. I'd reduce it longer.
