Pasta and Bean Soup - cooking beans with the Parson's method

I am the first to admit that making dishes with dried beans can be risky - especially if you don't do it every day, and if you have other things you might want to do with your life. But ever since I have discovered the Parson's method, I have at least one batch of beans in my fridge at all times. FOOLPROOF. Foolproof! You gotta try it.

The below soup is based on the Parson's method of cooking beans. Seriously tasty - ridiculously easy!

Pasta and Bean Soup

The Frugal Gourmet

2 c small white beans, dried
1 bay leaf
2 cloves garlic, peeled and chopped
1/2 medium yellow onion, diced
1 carrot, unpeeled and diced medium fine
1/4 c lovage or celery leaves
1/2 c tomato sauce
6 c water
1 c stock
1 c pasta, small, like stars or shells

Prepare beans using the Parson's method: place 1 c beans in a Dutch oven and cover with 2 c water. Add 1 tsp salt. Bring to a boil, then cover and place in a 350 oven and bake for 1-2 hours, depending on the freshness of the beans. Or, used canned (but freshly cooked will taste and look much better).

Add all ingredients to the pot, except salt, pepper and pasta.

Cover and simmer lightly for 90 minutes, or until beans are very tender.

Remove bay leaf. Remove 2/3 of the contents of the pot and puree. Return to pot and restore to a simmer. Add salt and pepper to taste. Add pasta and cook until pasta is just tender, about 15 minutes.

Comments

Mayocoba Beans with Green Chiles

I love this dish so much that I can barely stand it. Delicious the night it was made, and fantastic as leftovers throughout the week. Mayocoba beans are easily replaced -- try pintos, if you can't find mayocobas. Mayocoba Beans with Green Chiles Baptism of Fire 3-4 green chiles, roasted and chopped 1 onion, chopped 1 clove garlic, minced 1 T lard or olive oil 1/2 tsp oregano 1 tsp cumin pepper 1 c mayocoba beans, dry 3 c water 1 tsp salt Cook the green chiles, onion, garlic, oregano, cumin, and black pepper in the fat until the onions begin to caramelize. Add the water and bring to a boil. Turn off the heat and let the beans sit, uncovered, for an hour. You may drain the water to remove some of the slightly indigestible sugars that cause gassiness. If you decide to drain them, add enough water back into the pot to cover the beans with about 2" of water above the beans for cooking. Bring the beans back to a boil and cook, until tender. This will take...

Curried Chicken Soup

I made this soup so often in the 1990s, but frankly had forgotten about it. Flipping through this cookbook, I found this recipe and was flooded with memories. When I was in grad school, this soup was my "feeling decadent" food and reminded me of something people might eat after hitting the slopes -- a thing I have never done. A few decades long, and with a lot more experience with cooking, I realize that this is basically a chicken curry with a thin sauce and the rice already in the meal -- but don't let that in any way discourage you! It's delicious as is and is a wonderful take on what is otherwise chicken and rice soup. I have become a fan of using rotisserie chickens, especially during the pandemic. They are so cheap, and I can use the meat in a soup like this on the day-of grocery shopping, and, crunch the bones down for the freezer for making stock in the future. Of course, this soup can be made with a fresh chicken, but I have modified the recipe bel...

Garlicky Spiced Chicken and Potato Traybake with Pomegranate Molasses

This was delightful. Particularly the potatoes. While I had used pomegranate molasses before, I hadn't anticipated liking this as much as I did. I think the difference is in the quality of the molasses. Previously, I had used an economical version, which was much to sweet, much too sticky. I highly recommend splurging on a higher quality ingredient. Garlicky Spiced Chicken and Potato Traybake with Pomegranate Molasses Milk Street 1/4 olive oil 2 tsp pomegranate molasses 1 T allspice 1 tsp coriander 3/4 tsp cinnamon 1/8 tsp cardamon salt and pepper 3 lb chicken , bone-in, skin on, trimmed and patted dry 1 1/2 lb potatoes , unpeeled, in 1 1/2" wedges 8 cloves garlic , peeled parsley , to serve In a large bowl, stir together the oil, molasses, allspice, coriander, cinnamon, cardamom, 4 teaspoons salt and ¼ teaspoon pepper. Put chicken and potatoes on a large tray. Toss with the sauce. Add garlic cloves. Heat the oven to 450°F. Roast until the thi...

Donut Army

Search This Blog