{"id":2553,"date":"2021-12-06T07:15:28","date_gmt":"2021-12-06T12:15:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.agooddish.com\/?p=2553"},"modified":"2021-12-28T10:13:32","modified_gmt":"2021-12-28T15:13:32","slug":"give-this-many-bean-soup-mix-along-with-the-recipe-and-it-will-be-a-gift-each-time-it-is-cooked","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.agooddish.com\/?p=2553","title":{"rendered":"Give This Many Bean Soup Mix Along With The Recipe And It Will Be A Gift Each Time It Is Cooked"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"
Multi-bean soup from a homemade mix<\/span>
Soda fired porcelain mug<\/span>
by Gay Smith<\/a><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Seems impossible it is December already, doesn\u2019t it? Somehow it snuck up and the end of year holidays are upon us. I like to make holiday presents, partly to avoid the craze of shopping and partly because it is fun coming up with ideas and gifting something different and useful. Some years have been better liked than others and the winners have included bath salts, granola<\/a>, knitted dishcloths, lavender sachets and the \u201cseasoned\u201d fruitcakes<\/a> I posted last month. One of the most widely appreciated gifts was a quart-sized Mason jar of mixed bean soup mix accompanied with cooking instructions.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"
Choose different colors and sizes of<\/span>
beans, lentils and split peas<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
Bite-sized fresh vegetables<\/span>
ready to add in<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Getting bean soup to taste good without heaps of salt (to raise your blood pressure) can be a real struggle. One workaround is adding in dehydrated vegetables along with herbs and spices. Dried veggies like celery, onions, peppers and mushrooms are great flavor boosters (no chopping involved), keep for ages and boost the nutritional profile. Finding good quality dried vegetables can be challenging but I can recommend several reliable sources: Harmony House Foods<\/a>, North Bay Trading<\/a> and Frontier Coop<\/a>. Another big flavor boost is a good bouillon, either a cube or a generous spoonful, salt-free or regular. You can package the flavorings in a little baggie with the bouillon and salt in their own bag. Curry powder is another option for flavor but everyone doesn\u2019t love curry so if you include it, do so separately. Traditionally, flavor would come from a ham bone or hock, which you add while the beans are cooking, but I skip this as I am trying to avoid adding saturated fat and cholesterol. That said, a handful of chopped cooked ham or smoked turkey could be delicious addition. When I made this soup last week to check amounts, I used a whole cup of barley and it turned out more like a savory vegetable and bean stew. To serve it a second time, I thinned it with stock, added lots of fresh greens and had a different meal.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"
This soup is like a stew when thick<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

You can really adjust the flavor profile of this soup to suit your taste. Almost any firm, non-slimy vegetable (no eggplant or zucchini) will work (think carrots, celery, turnips, celery root, butternut squash). Just wait to add them until the last 20 minutes of cooking so they don\u2019t get mushy. A can of crushed tomatoes can also be added at that point. If you want to add green beans or leafy greens, do it at the very end so they stay bright. Use farro, sorghum or dried corn, if you don\u2019t like or don\u2019t want to use barley. I keep an empty jar handy in my kitchen to which I add small amounts of\u00a0 <\/span>uncooked beans and lentils each time I make a recipe that calls for beans. I don\u2019t worry too much about the individuals amounts, just that the total equals 2 cups. This soup doesn\u2019t have to be 8 bean types, it could be 2 or 12 and it will still taste good. For gifting, put the 2 smaller jars or baggies in the larger bean jar, attach a recipe card (or just photocopy the recipe below) and tie a ribbon around the neck. To make it a bigger present, place the jar in a new stockpot or accompany it with a good ladle, a wooden spoon, fresh potholders or a trivet. You can give a pot of soup for one meal or you can teach a friend to make a pot of soup….<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"
A great wintertime gift!<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

MIXED BEAN SOUP MIX<\/span><\/p>\n

For the soup mix:<\/span><\/p>\n

Layer into a large glass jar 1\/4 cup each \u00a0of 8 types for a total of 2 cups dried beans such as Pinto, Red, Navy Pea, Great Northern, Kidney, Cannellini, Black, Baby Lima,\u00a0 <\/span>Green or Yellow Split Peas, Brown, Green or Black Lentils, etc.<\/span><\/p>\n

In a small jar or baggie:<\/span><\/p>\n