Tomato Basil White Bean Soup- with Couscous

Tomato Basil White Bean Soup- with Couscous
(file photo)

The word is out! Here in New England snow is in our future for this weekend!  Looks like snowblowers, snow plows and snow shovels will be put to very good use on Sunday.  Any time the word snow is mentioned I think of a bowl of hearty hot soup.  One that is easy to prep is always a bonus.  Tomato Basil White Bean Soup fits that description.  

You probably have the ingredients in your kitchen ready to use.  Chicken Broth, tomato sauce, canned tomatoes, dried basil and kidney beans are quite often staples for many of us.  There are a few more ingredients, too.  I also add Couscous to the soup, but it is not necessary.  If I do not have white kidney beans, I use red kidney beans instead.  It takes little time to prepare and it is so delicious!

Click here for my Tomato Basil White Bean Soup recipe.  If you do not prepare a batch this weekend, save the recipe for next weekend!  Our chilly weather is here.

Enjoy!
Yummy!

         

Tomato Basil White Bean Soup

Tomato Basil White Bean Soup
(File Photo)

There is nothing better than a bowl of warm, hearty, yummy soup on a chilly evening.  Especially when and if one is sneezing.  Sometimes, soup is prepared before dinner and sometimes after taking a quick look in our freezer I can find a container of one!  One of our faves is Tomato Basil White Bean Soup!  It is easy to prepare and the ingredients are in my pantry.  If you do not have them, then definitely add them to your grocery list. 

When preparing this soup, the white kidney beans are rinsed in cold water and drained.  Repeat again.  Then, everything is placed in a large pot and the ingredients simmer on the stove for 30 minutes.  It is that easy!  I know, it's hard to believe!

If we have leftover Rice in our fridge, I add it to the pot.  If not, Couscous is prepared just before serving and added to the bowls before ladling in the soup.  My linked recipe has the Couscous.

There are always leftover portions, so I freeze 2 portion servings in freezer containers.  It's always a great find after a busy day!  This is a simple soup and it tastes simply delicious!  Click here for recipe!

Enjoy!
Yummy!

            

Tomato Basil White Bean Soup- with Couscous

Tomato Basil White Bean Soup
with Couscous

Our frigid weather + wind chills has reminded me that a bowl of steaming hearty homemade soup tastes so good on a cold evening!  This is especially true in the winter.  One very quick & easy homemade soup that tastes so yummy is Tomato Basil White Bean Soup!  Each spoonful contains small pieces of tomatoes & White Kidney Beans.  Then, there's the flavors & flakes of Basil & Parsley.  Ahhh!       

This is one of those quick dinners that tastes amazing.  The ingredients are always in my pantry.  They probably are in yours, too.  Everything is placed in my large pot!  Then, the soup simmers.  How easy can that be? 

If there is any "leftover" cooked white rice (from a previous dinner) in the fridge, I heat it to add to the soup bowls before serving.  Otherwise, I now add prepared Couscous to the soup bowls.  What a great addition!  Do you add Couscous to your soups?                 

Tomato Basil White Bean Soup with Couscous
4 Servings      

Ingredients:
1 can (14.5 ounces) Fat Free & Lower Sodium Chicken Broth
     (I use College Inn.)
1 can (15 ounces) Tomato Sauce
1 can Tomatoes, drained  ***If using whole tomatoes, cut into eighths.
1 can (15 ounces) Cannellini Beans (White Kidney Beans)
1 Tablespoon Dehydrated Onion
2 Tablespoons Dried Parsley 
2 teaspoons dried Basil
1/4 teaspoon Garlic Powder
****
1 Tablespoon Couscous
about 1/4 Cup broth from Tomato Basil White Bean Soup

***I use whatever size can of Tomatoes I have in my pantry.

Method:

1.  Place all ingredients, except Cannellini Beans, in large pot or Dutch Oven.
2.  Drain Cannellini Beans & rinse in cold water, drain again.
3. Add rinsed Cannellini Beans to large pot, stir.
4.  Bring to a boil.
5.  Simmer for 30 minutes & stir occasionally.
6.  Prepare Couscous:  Place Couscous in a small bowl.
7. To Couscous add the 1/4 Cup soup broth & stir.
8. Let stand 5 Minutes, then stir again.
9. Before serving soup, place prepared Couscous in soup bowls.
10. Add the Tomato Basil White Bean Soup & stir.   
11. Enjoy with a slice of rye bread.

If the soup gets a little thick while simmering, just add 2 ounces of water to the pot & stir in.

Tomato Basil White Bean Soup is quick & easy to make!

Enjoy!
Yummy!