It warms me to the bones and, for some reason, seems really satisfying to me when the outside temperature is chilly.
I thought it would be fun to put together one of my favorite 7 bean soup mix recipes into a Mason Jar and add the spice packet, my original recipe and a decorative ribbon.
The presentation makes it perfect for gift giving. It will make a nice hostess gift or housewarming present for a friend who loves to cook.
Dried beans are wonderful to use in soup mixes. The sky is the limit for the types that work well in soups.
This 7 bean soup mix jar would make a great housewarming party gift.
.I’ve even used 15 of them all at oncein a taco soup, but for today’s project, I chose 7 of my favorite beans.
You really can add the beans you have on hand, but for my mix, I used these:
Idaho Pinto Beans
Chick peas
Large Lima Beans
Black Eyed Peas
Split Peas
Black Beansd
Lentils (I used both orange and brown for color)
The next step is to put together a spice packet, so that the person you give the gift to can actually cook the soup and have it taste great. Dried beans on their own are very low in flavor and need spices. For my spice blend I used these herbs:
Spanish Paprika
Cumin
Red Pepper Flakes
Minced Onion Flakes
Sea Salt
Celery Salt
Cracked Black Peppercorns
Just blend your spices together to make the spice blend for your spice packet.
Now it is time for some printing. I made both a jar label and a recipe card for you to use.
I printed mine out on,glossy photo paper so that it would present well and not smudge.
Print the Jar label here. I printed both of these 4 inches wide and this fits one of the larger Mason Jars well. Print the recipe card here.The next step is to use a glue stick to glue the recipe card to the back of the jar label and punch a hole with a hole punch in the corner.
I put my spice mix into a small zip lock bag. (I used a small jewelry baggie that I had on hand but any small baggie will do.
Punch a hole in the corner for a ribbon.Time to assemble the beans! I layered them by alternating the darker beans and lighter colored ones to make a pretty presentation.
I placed my beans in the larger sized 32 ounce Mason Jar. They filled it right to the top of the jar!
Now comes the ribbon. I chose an autumn plaid ribbon,and threaded it through both the spice packet and my Jar label/recipe card.
The last thing to do is to tie it around the neck of my filled Mason Jar. Voila! The perfect hostess gift.
This 7 bean soup mix makes a very flavorful soup with just a hint of spice. It cooks in about 2 hours and is very tasty!Just want to make the 7 bean soup mix for your own enjoyment? Use the recipe card below!
Do you give food gifts to your friends? What are your favorite food items to gift? Tell us in the comments below!
In a separate bowl, dissolve a teaspoon or two of cornstarch or all-purpose flour in a small amount of cold water.Add the slurry to the bubbling soup. The soup should thicken up.
You can give your soup more heft as well as a thicker texture by adding one of these starchy ingredients: Add a can of lentils or cannellini beans, mashing about half before you mix it in.
Much like soaking, there's a simple ratio for cooking the beans, too. But, it's a bit more flexible. You want to use about 6-8 cups of liquid (water, broth, stock, etc.) for every pound of dried beans.
It may sound a bit strange and unusual for some, but vinegar is a common ingredient in some soup recipes, and there is a good reason for it. If you think about it, vinegar is really a flavor-enhancer (umami). That's why it is so often used in cooking, sauces, and salad dressings. The same is true with soups.
More vegetables: This is a great place for leftover cooked veggies. If you are working with a creamed soup, consider pureeing some vegetables to stir in. Cooked cauliflower, potatoes, winter squash, or carrots would work really well. Herbs: Fresh chives, thyme, or cilantro stirred in just before serving.
Cornstarch, or corn flour, can be used to thicken soup through its high starch content. Cornstarch is a great thickener for soup because only a little bit is needed to significantly thicken a soup, and it will not affect the flavor profile of the soup.
To thicken the broth in bean soup, you can try the following methods: Mashing a Portion of Beans: Gently mash a portion of the cooked beans against the side of the pot. This releases starches, naturally thickening the broth. Be careful not to overdo it; you still want to maintain the soup's texture.
Consider using methods like making a roux, blending beans or legumes, using bread, adding egg yolk, pureeing vegetables, incorporating heavy cream or coconut milk, adding potato flakes or starch, or making a slurry with cornstarch or arrowroot to thicken soups without sacrificing flavor or texture.
You could use a hand potato masher, but if you used a hand blender or a regular blender and puree some of the beans and the broth, you will get a creamy liquid that will mix back into your soup and thicken it without changing the flavor at all.
Honestly, if you just stir in a little instant mash, like Smash, your soup will thicken up in no time at all. Now, you may end up needing more than a spoonful, but it's best to add a little at a time, because remember, you can always add more of it, but you can't take it away.
These delicate guys are best for soups, purées, and other applications that don't hinge on having totally intact beans. Their thinner skins mean they have a tendency to burst and release starchiness into their cooking liquid. Try: borlotti, pinto, adzuki, cannellini, navy.
In a large pot, add 6 cups of water for each pound (2 cups) of dry beans. Heat to boiling; boil for 2–3 minutes. Remove from heat, cover, and soak for at least 1 hour.
To cut down on the gassy properties, you can add a little baking soda to your recipe. The baking soda helps break down some of the beans' natural gas-making sugars.
Beans are an excellent source of nutrients and offer numerous health benefits. They're a great of plant-based protein, fiber, iron and antioxidants. Eating beans on a regular basis can help in maintaining a healthy weight, reducing the risk of chronic diseases and supporting your gut health.
Yes! "Eating beans, including canned beans, every day is one of the best things you can do to help increase nutrients [that you may fall short on] and substantially improve the quality of your diet," says Papanikolaou.
There is an Italian saying: “La zuppa fa sette cose.” It means “Soup does seven things.” Soup quenches thirst, satisfies hunger, fills your stomach, aids digestion, makes teeth sparkle, adds color to cheeks and aids sleep. In other words, soup cures most, if not all human ills.
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Time to assemble the beans! I layered them by alternating the darker beans and lighter colored ones to make a pretty presentation.
Just want to make the 7 bean soup mix for your own enjoyment? Use the recipe card below!
