Hearty Kale Bean Soup (Printable)

Nourishing soup packed with kale, vegetables, and protein-rich beans for a satisfying meal.

# What You Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
02 - 1 large onion, finely chopped
03 - 2 garlic cloves, minced
04 - 3 medium carrots, diced
05 - 2 celery stalks, diced
06 - 1 large potato, peeled and diced
07 - 6 cups fresh kale, stems removed and leaves chopped

→ Legumes

08 - 1 can (15 ounces) cannellini beans, drained and rinsed

→ Liquids

09 - 6 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
10 - 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

→ Spices and Seasonings

11 - 1 teaspoon dried thyme
12 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
13 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
14 - Pinch of red pepper flakes, optional

# How-To Steps:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large soup pot over medium heat. Add chopped onion and cook for 3 minutes until translucent.
02 - Stir in minced garlic, diced carrots, diced celery, and diced potato. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
03 - Add chopped kale to the pot and sauté for 2 minutes until slightly wilted.
04 - Pour in vegetable broth and add thyme, cumin, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes if using.
05 - Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 20 minutes until vegetables are tender.
06 - Stir in drained cannellini beans and simmer for 5 additional minutes to heat through.
07 - Add lemon juice and adjust seasoning to taste. Ladle into bowls and serve hot.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • Its the kind of soup that actually gets better overnight, so lunch the next day feels like a treat
  • You probably have everything in your pantry already, making it perfect for those I dont want to shop days
02 -
  • Removing kale stems is nonnegotiable they never break down properly and ruin the texture
  • The lemon juice might seem optional but its what transforms this from good to cant stop eating it
03 -
  • Dice your vegetables to the same size so they cook evenly and look beautiful
  • Taste your broth first since brands vary wildly in salt intensity
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