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
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
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.
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.
