Description: The best soup base in the Shire. All the Hornblowers swear by it.
Submitted by: whittyb on 2002-09-03 04:06:16
Serves: 3-6
Prep Time: 30-40 min.
Difficulty: Easy
Ingredients
2 cans garbanzo beans (chickpeas)1/2 cup grated cheese
Salt & pepper to taste
1/2 cup water
2 cloves garlic, pressed
1/2 onion, chopped
1/8 stick butter (optional)
1 cup fresh baby spinach leaves or bay leaves (shredded)
Olive oil
Handful capers (optional)
Instructions
In a deep frying pan, sauté garlic and onion in olive oil. Add garbanzo beans (save liquid it was stored in). Heat for an additional 5-7 minutes.Add spinach or bay leaves. Add 1/8 stick of butter if desired (this item can be left out, I do); after butter is melted, add the two cans of liquid that the garbanzos were stored in, plus another 1/2 cup of water.
Add 1/2 cup of grated cheese (or more, I like mine cheesy.) Add capers (if you don't like them, you don't have to add these great green wonders.)
Bring to a boil while stirring intermittently, then let simmer for 5 minutes. Ta da! Its done.
Add-ons:
*Crackers, you just cant go wrong with these puppies !
*It is possible to add brown rice or even pasta (elbows work great) during the last 5-10 minutes, to make it heartier.
*Twice-toasted bread is perfect for dipping
*A small can of crushed tomatoes can be added instead of the 1/2 cup of water
*Other vegetables can be added. The greens ones, such as Brussels sprouts and artichoke hearts are best.
*Cheese lovers can add a sizable chunk of blue cheese for flavor and added creaminess.
*Instead of grated cheese, you can use nutritional yeast or vegan-friendly grated product
This meal is easily customizable; have fun and try new ideas with this base soup!
2 Comments
I really like this soup! It is really good by itself, but I used it as a base and put in more veges. It was just a little bit salty. I’d suggest rinsing any canned beans or whatever really well under a tap. Then again I don’t like a lot of salt. But I think it is a yummy soup! Round of applause!!!
My whole house enjoyed this stew. We used pinto beans instead of the garbanzo, but it didn’t make a bit of difference. Great tasting and easy to make!