Pesto + White Bean Soup

This soup is incredibly comforting throughout the colder winter months, yet bright and cheerful during the spring and summer, thanks to the addition of fresh pesto sauce.

This entire dish comes together FAST…I mean if you’re going to make your own homemade pesto (which I DO recommend!) that will take 5 minutes while your soup simmers.

So, in just 20 minutes from now, you’ll be enjoying a warm hearty bowl of ultra-flavorful soup.

Each time I make a batch of homemade pesto, I ask myself why I don’t make it more often?!!!

It’s just SO good and really brightens up any meal!

I hope you enjoy this recipe, and it becomes one that you make and love throughout the upcoming fall and winter months because it’s such an easy and affordable idea anytime!
Homemade Pesto Recipe

We LOVE soup at our house! It’s warming, filling, and ready-to-eat wherever you are!

I ALWAYS double my soup recipes because soup makes wonderful future meals!

This is one of our newest FAVES!

These past several years I’ve been focusing on becoming extra creative with less expensive (more affordable) foods.

How can I create delicious meals or dishes for less money? You too?!

I think it’s a necessity these days to keep our family budget in check without compromising our health and FLAVOR!

So naturally, beans are always on the top of my list! Beans are incredibly nutrient-dense and filling.

I usually keep lots of canned beans in my pantry (stocking up when on sale) because they are AWESOME when I need to create a meal in a hurry.

And of course, I love using the even more budget-friendly dried beans whenever I think to plan ahead for soaking and cooking time!

This recipe is really really good! Satisfying and hearty while only using a few simple and affordable flavorful ingredients.

There’s just something ultra-satisfying, and extremely comforting about a big stockpot of homemade soup sitting on the stove.

Your kitchen smells delicious, soup is economical, and it’s great because dinner is ready even if you’ll have a few stragglers who come home later after work or sports.

Soup helps stretch the family dinner budget while filling up those bellies with fresh, whole-food ingredients you carefully choose yourself.

I often double up soup recipes because it tastes even better the next day, and also freezes very well.

So right after dinner, dish up your lunch containers for tomorrow and stash them in the fridge, then freeze the rest for the next time you’re craving this DELICIOUS soup!

Want to cook your own dry beans at home? Here’s how

Beans are loaded with good-for-your-gut fiber, something a lot of us struggle to get enough of.

They have been linked with health benefits including lower cholesterol and blood pressure, and a lower risk of heart disease, and they also can help keep you feeling fuller longer.

No matter what kind of legume you’re preparing, it’s important to make sure they are fully cooked before you eat them because the uncooked version contains “antinutrients,” which can affect both your digestive system and the absorption of other nutrients.

Enjoy beans in soups and stews, in salads, or in chili!

REFERENCES:

WebMD

HealthLine

Rachel’s Note:

ANY broth works GREAT here!

Use vegetable broth to keep this vegetarian, OR add beef or chicken bone broth to increase the protein and nutrients.
Homemade Instant Pot Vegetable Broth

Homemade Bone Broth Recipe:

4 servings

Ingredients:

• 1 Tbsp olive oil, avocado oil, or ghee

• 1 large yellow onion, finely diced

• 4 fresh garlic cloves, minced

• 3 x 15 oz cans white beans, rinsed well and drained

• 2 cups chicken bone broth or vegetable broth

• sea salt and ground pepper, to taste

• 1/2 cup homemade pesto sauce, or to taste

• freshly shaved parmesan cheese, to serve

• fresh basil leaves and lemon wedges, to garnish

Instructions:

Heat your oil in a large stockpot or Dutch oven and saute the onion for 3-4 minutes, or until soft.

Stir in the garlic and saute for 1 minute longer.

Add in the beans, broth, and bring to a boil.

Once bubbling, reduce the heat, cover, and simmer for about 15 minutes.

During the last 5 minutes, stir in your pesto sauce and season with sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to your taste.

Serve with parmesan cheese and garnish with fresh basil and lemon wedges.

I like an extra dollop of homemade pesto on mine!
Enjoy!
Rachel

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