30 Minute Bean Soup for 2
"Cooking for 2 is such a challenge! We love dried beans but cooking a small amount doesn't seem worth the effort and we aren't keen on leftovers. This is something I came up with to mimic a hearty bean soup, without all the hassle or leftovers. Even drained and rinsed, canned beans are not something I use often - they taste "off" to me. The added lemon juice brightens up the canned flavor and I suggest not leaving it out. The vegetables can be varied according to taste. Omit the ham for a vegetarian meal or substitute cooked, crumbled bacon for an even richer flavor. Don't like Great Northern beans? Add the variety that pleases you. Using this recipe as a guide, follow *your* tastebuds."
photo by BarbryT
- Ready In:
- 30mins
- Ingredients:
- 13
- Serves:
-
2
ingredients
- 2 teaspoons margarine (use butter if you prefer)
- 1 celery rib, finely diced
- 1 carrot, finely diced
- 2 tablespoons minced onions
- 2 small potatoes, peeled and finely diced (about 1/2 cup)
- 1⁄2 cup cooked lean ham, diced
- 1 (14 ounce) can low sodium chicken broth
- 1 (15 ounce) can great northern beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1⁄4 teaspoon black pepper (to taste)
- 2 tablespoons instant potato flakes
- green onion, thinly sliced (optional)
- tomatoes, peeled and diced (optional)
directions
- In a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, melt the butter.
- Add the celery, carrots and onion. Saute until veggies are tender - 2-3 minutes.
- Stir in the potatoes and ham.
- Add the broth, beans and lemon juice. Season with pepper to taste.
- Simmer until potatoes are tender, about 10 minutes.
- Stir in the instant potatoes to thicken; use more or less until you get the consistency that pleases you.
- Optional - serve topped with thinly siced green onions and/or peeled, diced tomatoes.
- Serve with hot buttered cornbread.
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Reviews
-
My, my, this is good. And SO easy. You are entirely right that the lemon juice brightens the flavor enormously. I like bean soup, and I usually make a vat :-) of Senate Bean Soup in the autumn and freeze multiple servings. But sometimes those are exhausted before the next autumn and I am hit with a bean soup craving. This is the perfect solution. Thanks for posting it. Bring on more "for 2" recipes! They are very helpful for us 1s too.
RECIPE SUBMITTED BY
<p>Hello from suburban Fort Worth, Texas! <br /> <br /><br /> <br />______________________________________________ <br /> <br /> <br />*My rating system defined* <br /> <br />Very few recipes really knock my socks off - I love to cook but am not a gourmet. <br />This said: <br /> <br />***** - met all my expectations in taste & appearance; directions were clear & easy to follow. <br /> <br />**** - fell slightly short of my expectations in taste or appearance or directions were faulty or not completely clear. <br /> <br />*** - mediocre taste and/or appearance; most likely a recipe that I would not use again without much modification. <br /> <br />** - taste and/or appearance was not to my liking; a recipe that I would not attempt to modify or use again. <br /> <br />* - taste was absolutely not to my liking (I can't imagine ever using this rating as I can generally tell by the ingredients if I will enjoy the finished product or not) <br /> <br /> <br /><img src=http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e347/Saturn6666/chefbanner1.jpg alt= /> <br /> <br /> <br /><img src=http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j44/scmurray51/hagshat.jpg alt= /> <br /> <br /><br /> </p>
