15-Bean Soup with Fresh Spinach and Aromatic Spices Recipe
This hearty and wholesome 15-Bean Soup is a comforting, flavorful dish perfect for chilly days. Packed with a variety of beans and fresh vegetables, it features aromatic spices and is enriched with fresh spinach and herbs for a nutritious, satisfying meal that’s easy to prepare.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 45 minutes
- Total Time: 2 hours
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Beans
- 1 pound 15-bean mix (discard seasoning packet if included)
Vegetables and Herbs
- 1 large yellow onion, diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 4 medium carrots, diced
- 3 celery ribs, diced
- 2 1/2 cups fresh spinach, roughly chopped
- 1 bay leaf
- Fresh parsley or cilantro, chopped (for garnish)
Liquids
- 6 1/2 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
- 1 can diced tomatoes with juices (14.5 ounces)
Spices and Seasonings
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 3/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 3/4 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- Salt, to taste
Instructions
- Rinse Beans: Thoroughly rinse the 15-bean mix under cold water and remove any debris or stones to ensure clean beans for cooking.
- Sauté Vegetables: Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the diced onion, minced garlic, diced carrots, and celery. Sauté the vegetables until they are softened and fragrant, about 5 minutes.
- Toast Spices: Add dried thyme, smoked paprika, ground cumin, and black pepper to the sautéed vegetables. Stir and cook for 1 minute until the spices are fragrant to enhance the flavor.
- Combine Ingredients: Add the rinsed beans, low-sodium vegetable broth, diced tomatoes with their juices, and the bay leaf into the pot. Stir well to combine all ingredients evenly.
- Simmer: Bring the soup to a boil, then reduce the heat to low. Cover the pot and let the soup simmer gently for about 1 1/2 hours or until the beans are tender. Stir occasionally and add more liquid if the soup becomes too thick.
- Wilt Spinach: Remove the bay leaf from the soup. Stir in the chopped fresh spinach and cook for an additional 5 minutes until the spinach wilts and blends into the soup. Adjust seasoning with salt to your liking.
- Serve: Ladle the hot soup into bowls and garnish each serving with fresh chopped parsley or cilantro before serving for a fresh burst of flavor.
Notes
- Discard the seasoning packet included with most 15-bean mixes as it often contains excess salt and preservatives.
- Soaking beans overnight is optional but can reduce cooking time and improve digestibility.
- Add extra vegetable broth or water during simmering if the soup becomes too thick.
- This soup freezes well; cool completely before storing in airtight containers for up to 3 months.
- For a non-vegetarian version, substitute vegetable broth with chicken broth.
Keywords: 15-bean soup, vegetarian soup, healthy bean soup, vegetable soup, hearty soup, meatless soup, comfort food, stew
