This is the best vegan butter bean soup, nothing else to say! It’s super cheap, quick & easy to make, plus so hearty, healthy and absolutely gorgeous in flavour. Success guaranteed 😊 Vegan & gluten-free.
I’ve made this hearty soup so many times, but I recently just did it at a dinner party, and everybody ended up licking the bowls (really!). I don’t blame them, it’s so good, and a soup season favorite.
Butter beans are one of my favourite beans, they are so big and have a lovely creamy texture. You should also check it out my Mediterranean butter beans salad or this vegan butter bean curry. Quick, easy, and of course, so tasty.
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Ingredients
This recipe uses a few pantry staples and fresh veggies, that you can find at all grocery stores.
- Fresh garlic cloves diced
- Brown onion diced
- Canned diced tomato (you can use fresh tomatoes instead)
- Vegetable stock (you can use powder too)
- Bay leaves
- Potatoes cut in 3cm chunks
- Canned butter beans
- Broccoli chopped
- Spinach
- Sea salt
See recipe card for quantities.
How to make this healthy butter bean soup
All you need to make this healthy vegan soup is one medium pot to cook it, and less than 30 minutes!
Add a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil to a medium size or large pot on medium heat. Add the garlic, onion and pinch of salt, and sauté for 5 minutes, until the onion starts to be transparent. Pour the tomato and combine for 2 minutes.
Pour hot water, stock powder and bring to boil. Add the potatoes and bay leaves, and cook with the lid on for 10 minutes. Insert a knife in the potatoes to make sure they’re soft inside.
Put the broccoli and butter beans in the pot, stir, and cook with the lid on for another 5 minutes.
Add the spinach and stir to combine. Cook for another 2 minutes.
Hint: if you want to quicken up the process, you can cut the potatoes in really small cubes.
Substitutions
- Add other veggies – like carrot, celery, zucchini, red peppers, cauliflower or kale!
- Turn it into a creamy butter bean soup – adding a bit of canned coconut milk or cream, and nutritional yeast.
- Spice it up – with some cumin and ground coriander.
- Make it spicy - adding some chilli flakes when serving.
- Use other fresh herbs - like fresh rosemary or fresh parsley.
- Other beans – like cannellini beans, black beans or chickpeas would work great as well
Equipment
- Knife & chopping board
- Timber spatula
- Medium pot with lid
Storage
Store the leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. This soup is not suitable for freezing due to the potatoes.
Oh! And this soup taste even better the next day!😋
Top tip to make the best butter bean stew!!
Make sure the potatoes and the broccoli are nicely cooked. I personally like them both being really soft, not al dente.
FAQs About Butter Bean Soup
Can you give a brief overview of the butter bean soup recipe?
The butter bean soup recipe is a simple and delicious dish that involves sautéing garlic and onions, adding diced tomatoes, water, vegetable broth, and bay leaves. Potatoes, canned beans (specifically butter beans), broccoli, and spinach are then added. The soup is cooked on medium-high heat, stirring occasionally.
How can I make the soup creamy?
To achieve creamy butter beans texture in the soup, add ingredients like canned coconut milk, cream, or pureed beans. This enhances the soup's richness and creates a more indulgent experience.
What's the difference between lima beans and butter beans?
Lima beans and butter beans are similar, with the former being younger and greener and the latter more mature and creamier. They can be interchanged in the butter bean soup recipes or in making lima bean soup.
Is it preferable to use canned beans or dried beans?
The recipe typically uses canned beans for convenience. However, dried butter beans can also be used after soaking and cooking them until tender.
What is the typical yield of this butter bean soup recipe?
The butter bean soup yield is about 2-3 servings, perfect for a small family or for enjoying leftovers.
Can additional flavors like smoked paprika be added?
Yes, adding smoked paprika can infuse the soup with a unique flavor. Additionally, seasoning with freshly ground black pepper enhances its taste.
What are the benefits of adding bay leaf and vegetable broth?
A bay leaf adds a subtle depth of flavor, while vegetable broth serves as a flavorful liquid base for this nourishing vegetable soup.
More vegan recipes!
Best Vegan Butter Bean Soup Recipe (Super Simple!)
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 2-3 servings 1x
- Category: Soup, main course
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
- Diet: Vegan
Description
This is the best vegan butter beans soup, nothing else to say! It’s super quick and easy to make, plus so hearty, healthy and absolutely gorgeous in flavour. Success guaranteed 😊 Vegan & gluten-free.
Ingredients
4 garlic cloves diced
1 onion diced
⅓ cup of canned diced tomato
600ml of water
1 tbsp of veggie stock
2-4 bay leaves (pending size)
2 medium potatoes cut in 3cm chunks
1 can of butter beans
1 cup of broccoli chopped
2 cups tightly packed of spinach
Sea salt
Instructions
- Add a drizzle of olive oil to a medium size pot on medium heat. Add the garlic, onion and pinch of salt, and sauté for 5 minutes, until the onion starts to be transparent. Add the tomato and combine for 2 minutes.
- Pour hot water, stock powder and bring to boil. Add the potatoes and bay leaves, and cook with the lid on for 10 minutes. Insert a knife in the potatoes to make sure they’re soft inside.
- Add the broccoli and butter beans, stir, and cook with the lid on for another 5 minutes.
- Add the spinach and stir to combine. Cook for another 2 minutes.
- Enjoy!
Notes
- If you want to quicken up the process, you can cut the potatoes in really small cubes.
- Add other veggies that you have on the fridge, like carrot, celery, zucchini, cauliflower or kale!
- Make it creamy, adding a bit of canned coconut milk or cream, and nutritional yeast.
Marta Tomé says
ohhh, I LOVE this soup and so easy to make🤪🤪🤪
Will says
I love this soup on a rainy day. So hearty and filling 😊