Sunday, February 12, 2012

White Bean and Herb Soup with Garlic Knots

Tarragon is the star of this soup and gives it a light, aromatic taste.  Tarragon has many healing properties and is great for warding off colds.  Additionally, it reduces platelet adhesion and is, therefore, helpful in preventing cardiovascular disease.  Is the "King of Herbs" in French cuisine and is the foundation for Bearnaise sauce among other recipes.

In this recipe, it provides a strong flavor that compliments the white beans and provides a hearty meal.  Combined with the garlic knots you have a great dish for a Sunday afternoon. All that and it only takes 20 minutes to make!

White Bean and Herb Soup
Ingredients:

1 small yellow onion, chopped small
1 cup diced celery
4 medium-sized garlic cloves, minced
2 medium-sized carrots, thinly sliced
1 medium-sized parsnip, thinly sliced
1 tablespoon peeled and minced fresh ginger
1 tablespoon of dried tarragon
1 can of small white beans (you could also use navy or cannelloni), rinsed well
2 tablespoon of minced fresh chives
2 teaspoons dried thyme
3 tablespoons of Tamari
2 bay leafs
sea salt and black pepper

Cut up all your veggies and put them in a large stock pot.  Drizzle with grapessed oil and a dash of salt and pepper.  Saute for 5 minutes and then add the veggie broth and bay leafs. Bring to a boil and cook for 15 minutes, or until your veggies are tender.

Next add the white beans and combine well.  Cover again and cook for ten more minutes.

Remove your soup from the heat and add the chives, Tamari, tarragon and thyme.  Taste to see if you need more salt and pepper.

Voila! Yummy, hearty soups.

Garlic Knots
Ingredients:
1 tablespoon yeast
1/2 cup lukewarm water
1 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons vegetable oil 
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons of EVOO
3 tablespoons of minced garlic
3 tablespoons of parsley
2 tablespoons of nutritional yeast
Salt to taste

First make your pizza dough.  Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.  Mix the yeast with the lukewarm water until the yeast is dissolved. Let it stand for a couple minutes. Add the salt and vegetable oil/melted margarine. Mix. Add the flour, and mix. 

Let your dough rest for 15 minutes with a towel over it.  Roll out the dough and use a pizza wheel to cut it into 1 inch wide strips that are 1/4 inch thick.


Put your EVOO garlic, salt and parsley in a small pan and saute until the mixture is brown.  Brush the oil/garlic mixture on the pizza toe strips and tie them into knots.  Brush more of the oil/garlic mixture on the top and sprinkle with nutritional yeast.

Place them on a baking sheet and cook them for 15 minutes or until they are brown.

That's it!  That simple and they are great with pasta too.

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