Green Bean Soup with Cilantro

This hearty Green Bean Soup with cilantro is a unique recipe I make when fresh green beans are growing locally (in a friends garden is what I really mean). After learning to read labels many gluten free cooks lean toward recipes with ingredients that don't require labels and that puts homemade soup on the menu.

I love a soup and salad dinner, and it's even better when I serve it with something warm from the oven. That might be warm buttermilk biscuits, cheese biscuits or even a savoury scone.

Ingredients

Real Parmigiano-Reggiano from Italy, or the slightly less expensive Grana Padano, are both worth it in my opinion. No label to read! Buy a large block to decrease the price and divide it into two containers. This helps prevent cross contamination from cutting boards and partially clean knives. Then it will keep for ages.

• onion
• olive oil
• gluten free chicken stock
• tomatoes
• green beans, preferable from a nearby garden
• cauliflower
• potatoes
• garlic
• cilantro
• Parmesan cheese or rinds

See recipe card for exact amounts.

A Year of Homemade Soup

Cooking with seasonal ingredients is the best strategy to ensure lots of variety in your everyday meals. Thirty plants a week is the recommended for a healthy gut. Challenge yourself to make a new soup every month following what's in season.

• JANUARY - French Onion Soup
• FEBRUARY - Lentil and Red Pepper Soup
• MARCH - Leek and Split Pea Soup with Pistou
• ARPIL - Italian Fish and Shellfish Soup
• MAY - Vietnamese Lemongrass Chicken Noodle Soup
• JUNE - Thai Spicy Shrimp Soup
• JULY - Farm To Table Gazpacho
• AUGUST - Green Bean Soup with Cilantro
• SEPTEMBER - Roasted Tomato Soup
• OCTOBER - Butternut Squash Soup with Poblano Chiles
• NOVEMBER - Noodle Soup with Peanut Sauce
• DECEMBER - Soup From Leftover Turkey

I mix and match these all over the place so use this list as a starting point to collect and repeat your favourites.

Get The Tools

Cookware is an investment and a good set of pots is essential. You don’t need the most expensive set but consider that many items you purchase will last for decades. Notice what you like and choose wisely when you buy.

For the everyday home cook like me the largest pot in a typical set of pots is usually perfect for making soup. Although recipes sometimes say a Dutch oven or a soup pot they probably don’t really mean that. A modern Dutch oven is like the gorgeous Le Creuset enamelled cast iron pot. They are heavy and expensive but will last for a lifetime of cooking. For a fraction of the cost you can buy a lesser quality enamelled cast iron Dutch oven and it would last at least half a lifetime.

Top Tip

Save the rinds from blocks of Parmesan cheese or Grana Padano in the freezer. Use them to add flavour to homemade soups, stews and sauces. Simply toss a few into the pot, right out of the freezer, as it cooks.

Green Bean Soup with Cilantro

This hearty Green Bean Soup with cilantro is a recipe I look forward to making when I have fresh green beans from the garden, anyone's garden.

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Course: Soup

Cuisine: Canadian

Keyword: green bean soup

Author: Cinde Little

Ingredients

• ▢ 2 cups chopped onion
• ▢ ¼ cup olive oil
• ▢ 4 cups gluten free chicken stock
• ▢ 4 cups water
• ▢ 1 can tomatoes, diced (14 oz/398 ml)
• ▢ 1 lb green beans cut into ½ inch lengths
• ▢ 2½ cups cauliflower, separated into small flowerets
• ▢ ½ lb red potatoes, diced
• ▢ 1 teaspoon salt
• ▢ ½ teaspoon pepper
• ▢ 3 garlic cloves, crushed
• ▢ 1 cup loosely packed cilantro
• ▢ ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese or 2-3 Parmesan rinds

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Instructions

• In a large soup pot heat oil over medium-low heat. Add onion and cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Add stock, tomatoes and water. Bring to a boil.
• Add beans, cauliflower, potatoes, salt and pepper. Bring back to a boil then reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes.
• Transfer 1½ cups of cooked vegetables plus ½ cup liquid to a 4-cup measuring cup. Add garlic and cilantro, puree until smooth. Pour mixture back into pot.
• Add cheese and/or Parmesan rinds and simmer for 5-10 minutes.
• Taste and adjust seasoning. Serve.