Hearty Kale Soup with Beans (Printable)

Wholesome kale, root vegetables, and cannellini beans simmered in savory vegetable broth for comfort and nutrition.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
02 - 1 large onion, finely chopped
03 - 2 garlic cloves, minced
04 - 3 medium carrots, diced
05 - 2 celery stalks, diced
06 - 1 large potato, peeled and diced
07 - 6 cups kale, stems removed and leaves chopped

→ Legumes

08 - 1 can (15 ounces) cannellini beans, drained and rinsed

→ Liquids

09 - 6 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
10 - 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

→ Spices and Seasonings

11 - 1 teaspoon dried thyme
12 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
13 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
14 - Pinch of red pepper flakes, optional

# How to Make It:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large soup pot over medium heat. Add the onion and sauté for 3 minutes until translucent.
02 - Stir in the minced garlic, diced carrots, celery, and potato. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally until vegetables begin to soften.
03 - Add the chopped kale and sauté for 2 minutes until slightly wilted.
04 - Pour in the vegetable broth and add the dried thyme, ground cumin, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes if desired.
05 - Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 20 minutes until all vegetables are tender.
06 - Stir in the drained cannellini beans and simmer for 5 additional minutes to heat through completely.
07 - Add fresh lemon juice and adjust seasonings to taste. Serve hot immediately.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It tastes infinitely better than it sounds, like vegetables learned how to be genuinely delicious instead of just virtuous.
  • Forty-five minutes from craving to bowl means you can feed yourself on a weeknight without ordering out.
  • This soup actually fills you up and doesn't leave you hunting the fridge an hour later.
02 -
  • Don't skip rinsing the canned beans or your soup will have a weird tinny undertone that nobody can quite identify but everyone can taste.
  • Taste the soup before serving and don't be afraid to add more salt or lemon; this is the moment where you get to decide if it tastes like your version of delicious.
03 -
  • If your soup tastes one-dimensional after simmering, it's screaming for more lemon juice or salt; don't be stingy in those final moments.
  • Adding a parmesan rind while it simmers adds umami depth without anyone realizing what you did, which is the best kind of secret ingredient.
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