Pesto navy bean soup with red bell peppers

6 Servings

Ingredients

QuantityIngredient
2cupsNavy beans or small white beans, soaked overnight
10cupsWater, approximate
1tablespoonVegetable oil, (1 to 2)
2Red bell peppers, seeded and diced (2 or 3)
1mediumOnion, diced
1Yellow summer squash or zucchini, chopped
1cupCelery, diced
½teaspoonGround black pepper
¾cupPesto sauce, see pantry
1cupMilk, 1% lowfat, or soy milk
1tablespoonCornstarch

Directions

Pantry: drain and rinse the soaked beans. Prepare other vegetables. Prepare the pesto or use a commercial blend. See "Pasta and Red Bean Salad with Pesto."

Combine the beans and water in a saucepan and cook ever medium heat for about 45 minutes. Drain, reserving 4 cups of the cooking liquid, and set aside. Heat the oil in a large saucepan and add the peppers, onion, squash, and celery. Saute for 7 to 10 minutes over medium heat.

Add the beans, reserved cooking liquid, and ground pepper and cook for about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in the pesto and milk and bring to a simmer. Combine the cornstarch with 1 tablespoon of warm water and whisk into the soup. Simmer for 5 to 10 minutes more, stirring occasionally. Ladle into bowls and serve hot with French bread.

Per serving: 481 cals; 18 g fat, (about 34⅖% cff) Jay Solomon / Lean Bean Cuisine (c) 1995 ISBN 1-55958-438-6 : Beans, Vegetarian Recipes from Jay's Cafe, Ithaca NY From the library of PatH <phannema@...>

Recipe by: Jay Solomon / Lean Bean Cuisine (c) 1995 Posted to MC-Recipe Digest V1 #381 by PATh <phannema@...> on Jan 19, 1997.