Kale & Great Northern Bean Soup

kale & great northern bean soup

I thought I would share a garden update with you: what’s in my garden at the end of November? The lettuce that I sowed in mid-September is now disappearing and turning into what seems like camping sites for slugs. On the plus side I have plenty of garlic chives that I love tossing into my miso soup with tofu. Also the cilantro is still holding strong, brightening our meals every day, as well as rows of skinny leeks, shabby looking Brussels sprouts, Swiss chard, and the rest is kale, kale and more kale.

Cooked great northern beans

dry sausages

I have different kinds of kale plants in the garden but so far my reliable ones are heirloom Lacinato kale, which I love for its bug/disease resistance, and Red Russian, which has great cold resistance. We can never have enough kale in our household thanks to its vitamin and calcium content, as well as its renowned anti-cancer properties. The leaves at the bottom part of the kale plant get tough this time of year, so it is a welcome ingredient for soup.

Lacinato kale

Red Russian kale

In a cold storage, aka simple lidded containers filled with peat moss in the garage, we have carrots and beets, separately stored. I hadn’t had success in leaving carrots in the soil during winter due to the volume of rain (that equals too many slugs) here in the West Coast, so I pick before the rainy season starts every year. If you want more details on how to store them, check this post. Our 5-tier storage shelves are also lined with bright orange pumpkins, glossy kabochas and warty Marina Di Chioggias. So you might see a lot of pumpkin desserts for the next few posts, but I know you won’t be disappointed! But for now, here is warm kale soup for you. And if you are hooked on kale, there are more recipes, check here.

kale & great northern bean soup

Kale & Great Northern Beans Soup

Serves 6

1 cup Great Northern Beans, soaked overnight

1 tablespoon butter

2 garlic cloves, finely chopped

1 small knob ginger, finely chopped

2 teaspoons cumin seeds

1 onion, diced

1 carrot, diced

1 stalk celery, diced

2 dry sausages of your choice, sliced

2.5 L chicken stock, vegetable stock or water

2 teaspoons turmeric

2 bay leaves

A big bunch of kale, stalk removed and cut into 1 inch length

Salt and pepper

Truffle oil or olive oil for finishing

Cook the beans for 25 minutes, then add a bay leaf and dash of salt. Continue to cook until soft, for about 20 minutes.

Sauté the garlic, ginger and cumin with butter in a large pot over medium high heat. Add onion, carrots, celery, and sausage. Continue to sauté till they are nicely coloured.

Add the chicken stock, and bring to a boil. Skim occasionally. Add the turmeric, a bay leaf and beans, and then turn the heat down. Simmer for another 25 minutes.

Add kale and cook until it is tender, for about 10 minutes. Adjust with salt and pepper. Serve with a dash of oil. I like adding a few drops of truffle oil for its rich aroma.

kale & great northern bean soup

9 thoughts on “Kale & Great Northern Bean Soup”

  1. 自分の畑で育てたお野菜をいただける素晴らしさ。本当に羨ましいです。今は自分の子供達の面倒だけで結構手一杯だけど、いつか自分の庭で美味しいお野菜を作りたい。って言っても、庭がキャニオンに続いてるるので、いろんな動物達(特に鹿)にお花も食べれられて、ガーデンできるか疑問なのですが(汗)。

    美味しそうなスープ。なんか元気が出そうな美味しそうなスープですね!えみさんの豚汁のポストを読んでからずっと豚汁作りたくて。そうそうあの栗ご飯も美味しそうでした!

    p.s.あ、今FBのアドみました。ありがとう~!

    1. ありがとう、なみさん。キャニオンって、どんな野菜が育つんだろう?家庭菜園を始めたら、楽しみにしています。いつも温かいメッセージ感謝しています。

  2. Kale is such a beauty in the winter garden! Seeing it glisten with a bit of frost always feels a bit magical to me. Your soup looks hearty and comforting, and I love the combination of sausage, greens, and beans. Truffle oil at the end is a great idea!

    1. I know, Jess. It gets harder for me to pick and eat because they are so pretty in my garden when almost everything is gone! But I love eating them more than watching them:) I hope they last us until next spring!

  3. I’m a sucker for any soup with beans and kale, and this looks like the perfect warming, winter meal.

    P.S. You have my dream garden… sadly, my “garden,” aka one basil plant, just died!

    1. Hi Christine, you can always replace your plant in your garden so not to worry! By the way, it may be a good time to switch to sprouting? I’m starting tomorrow since my greens supply is getting low outside!

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