A couple of weeks ago we talked about how to simplify real food with a capsule pantry. Here’s a quick recap…
A capsule pantry is much like a capsule wardrobe; a term that you are probably familiar with. The capsule concept was created by Susie Faux, a London Boutique owner in the ’70s. According to Faux, a capsule wardrobe is a collection of a few essential items that work together and don’t go out of style (timeless).
A capsule pantry is an intentional way to simplify. A capsule pantry is made up of essential foods (ingredients). Foods that you love and use. Foods that can be used to create multiple meals. While most of us think of a pantry as just dry goods, this concept applies across the board to the fridge, freezer, and actual pantry (dry goods).
A capsule pantry simplifies not only your pantry space (goodbye ingredients that sit for years, just taking up space and not serving a purpose), but also simplifies planning and preparing meals. When you have a pantry that’s stocked with ingredients and foods you love and use, creating simple, nourishing meals is easy. A capsule pantry, to me, is essential for creating a simplified, ready-at-any-moment real food lifestyle.
The ingredients and foods stocked in your capsule pantry should be carefully curated by you, based on your family’s lifestyle. As an example, I shared a list of what’s stocked in my capsule pantry. You can download this list, here.
Cannellini beans are one of the ingredients on my list, along with carrots, onions, and broth/stock. With these ingredients, I can make a variety of meals including a variety of soups.
We have soup at least once a week, whether this is served as a make-ahead lunch meal (usually prepared on a Sunday evening), or a quick dinner (on the stove-top or in the Instant Pot).
Today’s recipe, Tuscan White Soup Bean, is an easy meal to add to your favorite’s list. A meal that is built on capsule pantry ingredients, making it affordable and easy to whip up even on the busiest of nights.
This rustic soup makes just enough to feed my family of four, so if you’re wanting leftovers (or your family tends to enjoy multiple bowls of soups at a meal), you may want to double the recipe in a large pot. I love to serve this soup alongside grilled cheese, or make sheet-pan sourdough croutons to serve on top of the soup.
Vegetarian Tuscan White Bean Soup
Ingredients
- 1 TB olive oil
- 1 medium yellow onion diced
- 1 cup diced carrots about 2-3 carrots
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- 1 large sprig of fresh rosemary stem and leaves separated, and leaves roughly chopped
- 2 sprigs fresh thyme
- 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
- 4 cups vegetable broth or chicken broth/stock
- 2 15-ounce cans white beans cannellini or Great Northern, drained and rinsed
- 1 1/2 tsp salt to taste
- pinch black pepper to taste
- 2 1/2 cups kale de-stemmed and chopped*
Optional Garnishes:
- grated parmesan
- fresh thyme
Special Equipment:
- Dutch oven or large pot
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a Dutch oven or large pot (3 quart or larger), over medium heat. Add the onions and sauté until soft and translucent, about 5-7 minutes.
- Stir in the carrots and garlic and sauté 4 minutes, or until the carrots begin to soften and the garlic is fragrant.
- Add the fresh rosemary leaves and stem, fresh thyme, and red pepper flakes. Sauté for 1 minute. Stir in the broth, beans, salt and pepper, and simmer for 10 minutes, until the carrots and beans have softened.
- Stir in the chopped kale (or greens of choice) and simmer for 5 minutes until the kale is wilted. Remove the thyme and rosemary stems, then adjust to taste (adding more salt or pepper, if needed).
- Serve warm with your desired garnishes.
Is this gluten free?
Hey Suzanne, None of the ingredients contain gluten, so yes, it’s naturally gluten free.
This is a versatile and delicious recipe. Add leftover salad greens or tomatoes. I added 1/2 can pinto beans I had open, italian seasoning.
YUM!
LS Team.
I made this recipe and it’s spot on! The dish I’d flavored perfectly and it was easy to follow.
Thank you for sharing ❤️
So happy it worked well for you Kristina! 🙂 Thanks for commenting.
LS Team.
This soup is phenomenal I just made it for first time today and it won’t be the last!! Thank you so much its delish!! And smells awesome! thanks again!!
Thats great! So happy you enjoyed it.
LS Team.
My husband and I love this soup!! Easy, cost effective and delicious!!!
An excellent soup recipe, my girlfriend is very littered with different types of soup, and this recipe is very unusual, we have not tried such a delicious soup! How do you think, Kristin, how can I increase the calorie content of this soup? He suits me all, his only minus is the lack of the necessary (for me) amount of calories. I add to the meal will be a broth with avocado, but ego is not enough, advise me please how best to increase the calorie intake of food.
Love how simple it is! Looks delicious. This recipe is also another good way for me to use up that kale or chard and copious amounts of onion and garlic I’ve been getting in my CSA box!
Perfect, Tamara! I’m so glad you can use the recipe!