Spicy White Bean Soup with Kale
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This White Bean Soup with Kale is a spicy and hearty bowl of healthy, creamy comfort food, ready in about 20 minutes. With a vibrant blend of herbs and spices, much like Harissa, often found in Tunisian cuisine.
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What I Love About this White Bean Soup
This is hardy and filling, perfect on the chillest and soggiest days. With a touch of lemon juice and topped with a salty Feta, and fresh parsley, it brings a bit of sunshine any day of the year.
The colors and flavors are robust and beautiful. It stands up to the weather and warms your bones.
Much like our other white bean soups, it’s a quick and easy fix that’s hearty enough for dinner yet also nourishing and light for lunch too.
What is Harissa?
Harissa is the base flavoring in Tunisian cuisine. “Tunisia is a country in the Maghreb region of North Africa. Its northernmost point, Cape Angela, is also the northernmost point on the African continent. Tunisia borders Algeria to the west and southwest, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east.”
It is usually served as a condiment for grilled meat, but it also added to roasted vegetables or stirred into stews and soups.
This recipe uses a homemade version of harissa, although it’s an easy swap if you have it on hand. Just eliminate the cumin, paprika chili powder, and cayenne.
Spicy White Bean Stew Ingredients
Pantry Ingredients:
- Olive Oil
- Tomato Paste
- Canned White Beans (cannellini, butter or Great Northern)
- Broth (Chicken or Vegetable)
Produce:
- Kale (I like to use bagged baby kale)
- Onion
- Garlic cloves
- Lemon
Herbs and Spices:
- Cumin
- Smoked Paprika
- Chili Powder
- Cayenne
- Fresh Parsley
- Red Pepper Flakes
What Makes The Spicy White Bean Stew Creamy?
To give this stew a wonderful creamy texture, simply smash a few of the white beans after they’ve been added to the soup pot. The texture will develop all on its own.
RELATED: More soup recipes can be found here…
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Spicy White Bean Soup with Kale Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 large bunch of kale chopped and deveined (or 1 bag of baby kale)
- 3 tablespoons olive oil plus more for drizzling
- 3 garlic cloves thinly sliced
- 1 medium onion thinly sliced
- salt and pepper to taste
- 3 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne
- 1/2 to 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes optional
- 3 (15-ounce) cans white beans drained and rinsed (like cannellini, butter or Great Northern).
- 4 cups vegetable broth
- 1/2 lemon juiced
- 2 ounces feta cheese
- 1 cup fresh parsley chopped
Instructions
- Rinse and devein the kale. Chop into bite-size pieces (or buy a bag of baby kale from the market). Set aside.
- Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add garlic and onion, then season to taste with salt and pepper. Cook until the onion is lightly browned, about 4 minutes.
- Add the tomato paste, paprika, chili powder, cayenne, and a pinch of red pepper flakes, if using, to the onions, stir to coat. Cook until the oil turns vibrant, about 2 minutes.
- Add the beans, rinsed and drained, and the chopped kale to the pot. Using a wooden spoon or spatula, smash a few beans against the side of the pot. Then add the broth and season with salt and pepper, if desired. Bring to a simmer and cook until it’s reached your desired consistency. The longer it cooks the thicker the stew, about 15 to 20 minutes is perfect for me.
- Just before serving, add the lemon juice to the stew and stir. Serve in bowls topped with feta, slices of red onion, and chopped parsley.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
This soup tastes so fresh and hearty, with just enough spice – so good! This will be on our list to make often!