Ingredients
Scale
Beans
- 1 cup dried garbanzo beans (or 2 cans, drained and rinsed)
Vegetables
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 2 medium carrots, chopped
- 2 celery stalks, chopped
- 2 medium tomatoes, chopped
- 2 cups fresh spinach or kale, chopped
Liquids & Oils
- 4 cups vegetable broth
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
Spices & Seasoning
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 2 bay leaves
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the Garbanzo Beans: If using dried garbanzo beans, soak them overnight and cook until tender before starting your soup. For canned beans, simply drain and rinse well to reduce salt content and spoilage.
- Sauté the Aromatics: Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat, then add chopped onions, carrots, and celery. Cook until softened and fragrant, about 5-7 minutes. Add minced garlic last to avoid burning.
- Build the Soup Base: Stir in your spices—cumin, paprika, and bay leaves—and let them toast slightly to release their aroma. Add chopped tomatoes and cook for another 5 minutes until they soften.
- Add Broth and Beans: Pour in vegetable broth and the prepared garbanzo beans. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Let it cook gently for 20-30 minutes so the flavors meld beautifully and the soup thickens slightly.
- Incorporate Greens and Season: In the last 5 minutes, add fresh spinach or kale and let them wilt. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper, removing the bay leaves before serving.
Notes
- Use fresh vegetables for better flavor and texture.
- Toast spices to enhance depth of flavor.
- Simmer gently to avoid overcooking vegetables.
- Blend part of the soup for creaminess while keeping texture.
- Season gradually to avoid over-salting.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes (plus overnight soaking for dried beans)
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Soups
- Method: Stovetop Simmering
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
- Diet: Gluten Free, Vegetarian, Vegan
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 1/2 cups
- Calories: 220
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 400mg
- Fat: 5g
- Saturated Fat: 0.7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4.3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 8g
- Protein: 10g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
Keywords: garbanzo bean soup, chickpea soup, vegetable soup, healthy soup, vegan soup, gluten free soup, hearty soup