Trying to incorporate more plant based meals into your diet? Trying to avoid processed and pre-made but short on time? I know. We’re a busy family. We budget and meal plan to make the most of all the resources available to us. This soup is homemade, uses pantry staples and hearty refrigerator items. Together you get a warm bowl of comfort, probably on par with a homemade chicken noodle.

The steps matter. Don’t skip them! For a delicious vegetarian soup that is big on flavor and appeals to your omnivorous friends, mindful cooking is where it’s at. A few vegetables and a little time sauteing take white beans, canned or dried, from boring to bubbling pot of creamy thick satisfying vegetarian soup.

We call this “Restaurant White Bean Soup” because it is that good. it tastes like it has been cooking away for ages, but it has not and you are the soup hero. Did I mention we like soup here at The Wonky Stove? We do, and usually we lean to vegetable based soups, even though our family is not vegetarian.

Another key “trick” is using marina sauce as part of the flavoring base! Ever have a bit left over in a jar and have no idea what to do with it? Here it is, this soup. Or planning on pasta? Set a bit of sauce aside and get a soup going for tomorrow while you’re eating dinner today.

Canned beans are the trick to speeding up the cooking process. Dried beans can be used too. I do a 30min pre soak in boiling water, drain them, and pressure cook them with a bay leaf and 3 cups of cold water for every 1 cup dry beans. do not salt your cooking beans until after they have cooked.

Side note for meal planning: Cook pasta separately and rinse in cold water ( probably the only time I will EVER SUGGEST WASHING PASTA)

Why? Pasta or any grain cooked in soup will continue to absorb the liquid and be unappealing if not eaten with a day (two the most). Cooking pasta separate from the soup keeps the integrity of the soup and pasta. It makes it a better candidate for freezing. This soup will freeze and reheat well. Add a bit of water, adjust seasoning and add desired pasta when reheating.

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