Simple Supper - Sixteen Bean Soup
sixteen beans in all their colorful glory
Most groceries carry this mixture in the pasta/dried beans aisle. One pound makes a HUGE pot of tasty soup. Some mixtures include barley — this gives the soup body and if it’s not included in my mix, I toss in 1/4 cup with the beans when soaking. Pick up a package of sixteen-bean mix for about a dollar, and have a simple and delicious supper.
Sixteen-Bean Soup
1. Pick over and wash the beans (and barley, if using).
2. Soak in 6 cups cold water overnight
or
Quick-soak: bring beans to a boil in 6 cups water. Boil ten minutes, skimming off foam. Switch off the heat, cover the pan and let them sit an hour.
3. Drain off soaking water. Rinse beans. Add six cups fresh water, one chopped onion and a couple of chopped carrots. Cook at a simmer (adding water as needed), about 2-3 hours, or until beans are tender. Add salt and pepper to taste.
Best served steaming hot on a chilly, stormy evening in autumn, with some crusty bread to soak up the broth.
Asha said,
October 29, 2006 @ 7:13 pm
Linda, I thought I had to go and get 16 kinds of beans! Phew!!:))
Do we get all those in one package?! That’s good! Bet it makes delicious bean soup and so nutritious too..I will try if I get that pack for sure.Thanks!!
Pot of soup sounds so good at this time..Brr…
Thanks Asha — that’s why I made it — warming for cold weather. You could toss in a green chile or two if you wanted more heat
I think this week is going to be rajma week, too!
shilpa said,
October 29, 2006 @ 10:55 pm
O wow…so many types of beans!! I would love to have this soup in this winter. I had seen this pack here in stores, but never knew what to do with it. Thanks Linda :).
Thank you Shilpa– if you try I hope you enjoy it. It’s really nice in cold weather
I have some more methi greens this week, so am ready to try your rasam powder tip!
MenuToday said,
October 30, 2006 @ 3:18 am
Hi Linda,
Nice way to use diff kind of beans in one dish. Thanks for sharing your healthy protein soup..
Thanks, MT
mandira said,
October 30, 2006 @ 1:19 pm
Very colorful and healthy Linda, I usually use 2- 3 kinds of beans.. now I will look for this - 16 beans package.
It’s a bargain, too, Mandira! Hope you enjoy
Hema said,
October 31, 2006 @ 9:21 am
just as everyone else said…its so colorful and obviously very healthy. Thanks for the recipe Linda.
Thanks, Hema
Shankari said,
October 31, 2006 @ 12:08 pm
I add some italian seasoning and tomato paste to mine. But I love this soup anytime of the day with garlic bread on the side. Very nice pic.
Garlic bread would be a great side dish, thanks Shankari!
Nabeela said,
October 31, 2006 @ 12:20 pm
Hi Linda! here’s another tip….add parmesan rind to your stock(if you have a parmesan block with rind intact) while cooking it…it changes the flavor of the soup considerably!And your soup looks delicous! 16 beans!! wow
Hey Nabeela — I often put the parmesan rind in minestrone soup — never thought to add it here. Will try that next time, thanks!
krithika said,
October 31, 2006 @ 7:39 pm
How colorful ! Would definitely like to try this.
I get mesmerized by the mixture, Krithika. BTW thanks for defining ‘field peas’ in your recent post — now I can give that a try
indosungod said,
October 31, 2006 @ 9:43 pm
Linda a hearty soup for a cold winters night a one pot delicious meal too.
Hi ISG — yes, it’s easy and hearty on a cold night — hope we don’t have much of that winter weather too soon
lakshmi said,
November 1, 2006 @ 6:17 am
very colorful linda
Hi Lakshmi … I never loved a potful of *one* of these beans alone, but the colorful combination hooked me
Ashwini said,
November 1, 2006 @ 5:57 pm
Whoa…Linda nothing with 16 different ingredients can be classified as simple. I am going to track this one in my super market next time
Hi Ashwini, I guess it’s simple since I didn’t have to mix up all those beans myself… sort of one-stop shopping
Lera said,
November 3, 2006 @ 11:15 am
what colourful medley of Beans,to consume….Great way to dish out a yummmy soup!
Thanks, Lera! Warming on a cold night like tonight
shaheen said,
November 4, 2006 @ 10:47 am
wowo. that is one protein warehouse!! yummmy beans soups for fall.
Protein warehouse, good one, Shaheen!
Shammi said,
November 7, 2006 @ 8:03 am
OohLaura, what a lovely, colourful mix of beans! I love all beans… and mixing them up in dals and chili is one of my favourite things to do
Thanks, Shammi — can’t beat this mix for value and volume — it makes a HUGE pot of beans
Chili will be good too, some of these cold nights. I should try it with the mixed ones, thanks for that idea!
The Spice Cafe » MBP - Around the World (Round UP) said,
February 9, 2008 @ 2:33 am
[...] The second soup came from Asha again!!! This is her second entry too!! She made SIXTEEN BEAN SOUP! from her recipe. [...]