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    Home » Soups and Stews

    Perfect White Bean Soup Recipe

    Published: Oct 18, 2022 by Shadi HasanzadeNemati · This post may contain affiliate links .

    44 shares
    Jump to Recipe

    This vegan white bean soup is hearty and easy to make. It's vegan, plant-based and ready in 30 minutes - great for when you want your soup to be a whole meal.

    two bowls of white bean soup on a wooden backdrop.

    Beans are a great source of plant-based protein and can be used in a variety of dishes such as Mediterranean three bean salad, vegetable soup and ash reshteh (Persian noodle soup). One of our favorite ways to enjoy beans is this delicious Mediterranean white bean soup made with a handful of ingredients. Follow along to learn how to make a hearty and creamy bean soup.

    Table Of Contents:
    • Why this recipe works
    • Tips to make the best white bean soup
    • Ingredients and substitutions
    • How to make white bean soup
    • Variations
    • Serving suggestions
    • Storage and reheating
    • Frequently asked questions
    • More vegetarian soup recipes
    • Step-by-Step Recipe

    Why this recipe works

    • Easy: This is an easy white bean soup recipe that calls for minimal prep and hands-on time.
    • Nutritious: Beans are a great source of plant-based protein and fiber, making this soup a nutritious meal for your family.
    • Flavors: Flavored with spices and freshly squeezed lemon juice, this soup is anything but bland.

    Tips to make the best white bean soup

    1. Season generously: Beans are a great canvas for flavors, so use a good amount of seasoning to make sure that every spoonful of this soup is flavorful.
    2. Blend partially: To make sure the soup has a nice, creamy texture, blend ⅓ of the soup and then return it back to the pot. Blended beans make this soup extra creamy without the use of any thickeners.
    3. Use broth: Quality vegetable broth adds a lot of flavor and nutrition to this soup. You can use store-bought or homemade vegetable broth.

    Ingredients and substitutions

    to make this recipe you need olive oil, onion, garlic, carrots, spices, white bean, vegetable stock and spinach.
    • Olive oil: Not only olive oil is a healthy fat that's used on a regular basis in Mediterranean cooking, but it also elevates the flavor of the soup.
    • Onion and garlic: Onion is a base for almost all of my soup recipes; you can use either white or yellow onion. I shouldn't need to stress this, but be generous with the garlic!
    • Carrots: They add a nice color and flavor to the soup.
    • Spices: I'm using a combination of cumin, coriander, oregano, salt and pepper.
    • White beans: This recipe calls for canned cannellini beans which are creamy and so delicious.
    • Vegetable broth: I sometimes use water for some soup recipes, however, for this particular white bean soup I strongly recommend using vegetable broth because it adds tons of flavor.
    • Spinach: Not only it adds a nice color to the soup, but spinach is also a good source of antioxidants. You can also use collard greens or kale.
    • Lemon: Finish the soup with a squeeze of lemon for some bright and tangy flavor!

    How to make white bean soup

    saute the vegetables add the spices and the white bean cook in the vegetable broth and blend part of it then add the spinach.
    1. Sauté the onion in olive oil until translucent. Then add the garlic and carrot and sauté for a few more minutes.
    2. Season with the spices and add the rinsed and drained cannellini beans followed by the vegetable broth. Bring to a simmer and cook for 15 minutes.
    3. Transfer 1 ½ cup of the soup to a bowl and blend using an immersion blender. If using a regular blender, make sure it's heat proof.
    4. Return the blended soup to the pot and stir well. Add in the spinach and cook for a few minutes, stirring occasionally.
    5. Serve with freshly squeezed lemon juice.

    Variations

    • Add more vegetables: You can add a number of vegetables such as mushrooms, potatoes or zucchini to this vegan white bean soup.
    • Make it creamier: Stir in some almond milk or cashew milk (not flavored) 15 minutes before serving to make this soup even creamier.
    • Add tomatoes: Stir in a can of diced tomatoes or a 1 tablespoon tomato paste to the sauteed vegetables for more flavor.
    • Herbs: Adding chopped herbs such as chopped parsley or cilantro right before serving will add a nice bright flavor to the white bean soup.

    Serving suggestions

    This soup would go well with fresh-baked, homemade bread such as my Turkish pide bread or barbari. You can also serve this soup with Greek salad, Mediterranean salad or green bean salad.

    front shot of a cannelini bean soup with spinach on a grey backdrop.

    Storage and reheating

    Store the leftovers in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 5 days. To reheat, use the microwave or in a saucepan over medium heat for about 15 minutes or until it's warm.

    To freeze white bean soup, transfer it to a freezer-safe container and freeze for up to 3 months. To serve, thaw in the fridge overnight and then reheat in a saucepan or using a microwave.

    Frequently asked questions

    Are white beans good for you?

    Packed with antioxidants, minerals and plant-based protein, white beans are a great addition to your meals.

    Can I double this soup recipe?

    Yes, you can easily double or triple this recipe by multiplying all the ingredients. The cooking time may increase by a few minutes.

    Can I use dry beans to make white bean soup?

    Yes, however, I recommend cooking the beans beforehand since they take a long time to cook in the broth. You can use my tutorial on how to cook beans in the instant pot.

    a bowl of soup on a table.

    More vegetarian soup recipes

    • Homemade Minestrone Soup Recipe
    • Turkish Red Lentil Soup (Mercimek Corbasi)
    • Easy Mediterranean Green Lentil Soup
    • The Best Mushroom Barley Soup Recipe

    Did you make this recipe? I'd love to hear about it! Please comment and leave a 5-star🌟 rating below. You can also follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest or subscribe to our newsletter to get a free e-Cookbook!

    Step-by-Step Recipe

    Perfect White Bean Soup Recipe

    Shadi HasanzadeNemati
    This vegan white bean soup is hearty and easy to make. It's vegan, plant-based and ready in 30 minutes - great for when you want your soup to be a whole meal.
    4.93 from 13 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 mins
    Cook Time 25 mins
    Total Time 30 mins
    Course Main Course, Soup
    Cuisine Mediterranean
    Servings 4 servings
    Calories 271 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 2 tbsp olive oil
    • 1 onion chopped
    • 4 cloves garlic minced
    • 1 carrot diced
    • 1 tsp cumin
    • ½ tsp coriander
    • 1 tsp oregano
    • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
    • ¼ tsp black pepper
    • 2 cans cannellini beans 15 oz. each - Drained and rinsed
    • 5 cups vegetable broth
    • 2 cups baby spinach
    • 1 lemon juice of

    Instructions
     

    • Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Sauté the onion until translucent. Add in the garlic and carrots and cook for 5 minutes.
    • Add the cumin, coriander, oregano, salt, pepper and cannellini beans. Stir and add in the vegetable broth. Turn the heat to medium high and bring the soup to a simmer. Lower the heat to medium and cook for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
    • Transfer 1 ½ cup of the soup to a bowl and blend it using an immersion blender. If using a regular blender, make sure it's heat-proof.
    • Pour the blended soup back into the pot and give the soup a good stir. Add in the spinach and cook for 5 to 10 minutes until it's cooked.
    • Taste and add more salt if needed. Add the lemon juice right before serving.

    Video

    Notes

    1. If a blender is not an option, you can mash some of the beans using the back of a wooden spoon while stirring. 
    2. You can add other vegetables such as celery, potatoes, mushrooms and zucchini. 
    3. Store the leftovers in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 5 days. Reheat in a saucepan over medium heat or use a microwave. 
    4. You can freeze this white bean soup for up to 3 months. To serve, thaw it in the fridge overnight and then reheat using a saucepan or a microwave. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 271kcalCarbohydrates: 46gProtein: 14gFat: 7gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gSodium: 2254mgPotassium: 240mgFiber: 13gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 4603IUVitamin C: 23mgCalcium: 184mgIron: 6mg
    Did you make this recipe? Let us know how it was by leaving a comment and a 5-star review!
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    44 shares

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Jessie

      January 04, 2023 at 10:48 am

      5 stars
      This is the perfect blend of cozy and hearty. I LOVE the trick about blending some of the soup to make the whole thing creamier without adding heavy cream. Definitely adding to our regular rotation!

      Reply
    2. kushigalu

      January 04, 2023 at 10:03 am

      5 stars
      Healthy and comforting white bean soup. Thanks for the recipe

      Reply
    3. Stephanie

      January 04, 2023 at 9:20 am

      5 stars
      My favorite soups are those with beans. I love the heartiness they add. This one looks so good. I bet even the kids would like it.

      Reply
    4. Kathleen

      January 04, 2023 at 9:18 am

      5 stars
      This is one hearty, comforting and flavorful soup. It's perfect for a busy weeknight meal or a cozy weekend dinner.

      Reply
    5. Tayler

      January 04, 2023 at 8:40 am

      5 stars
      I made this soup for dinner last night and it was incredible! My whole family loved it and we will definitely be adding to our regular rotation!

      Reply
    6. Carrie Robinson

      October 19, 2022 at 1:15 pm

      5 stars
      Ooooooo.... this looks like the perfect bowl of comfort food to me! 🙂 Going to have to add this to my weekly dinner rotation soon.

      Reply
    7. Aimee Mars

      October 19, 2022 at 1:01 pm

      5 stars
      I love this for soup season - we made it last night and it was a huge hit!

      Reply
    8. Jess

      October 19, 2022 at 12:17 pm

      5 stars
      Love this soup with a side of crusty bread. Yummmmm

      Reply
    9. Mirlene

      October 19, 2022 at 12:00 pm

      5 stars
      Love all the seasonings in this bean soup. I love all types of beans so this would be wonderful to have for this weather.

      Reply
    10. Beth

      October 19, 2022 at 11:48 am

      5 stars
      Oh, that looks so good. I love bean soup, especially during the fall and winter. I might add a hamhock to this.

      Reply

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    44 shares