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!
This simple and comforting seven bean stew features a medley of dried lentils, pinto beans, navy beans, black eyed peas, kidney beans and black beans. A hearty and delicious stew for cold weather.
And for a quick fix, just add some starch slurry :) Dissolve a little flour in cold water and slowly pour into the hot soup while stirring. You can cook it down longer, or use a thickening agent, cornstarch, flour or if there is a local thickening agent that could probably be used too if the flavor isn't strong.
Place the beans in a blender or food processor with 1 cup of the broth. Blend until smooth and set aside. You don't want to blend all of the beans, just some to thicken up the soup. The pureed beans make the soup extra creamy and give it the best texture.
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.
About this method: One of the most common ways to thicken sauces and soups is with a starch-based slurry, and cornstarch is a popular choice. Cornstarch is flavorless, easy to mix up, and versatile, which makes it a go-to pantry ingredient.
Sometimes soup just needs to simmer longer to reach the perfect consistency. Check to see if the vegetables are tender, and then taste the broth. If the soup tastes a bit watery, give it more time.
It's important to note that cornstarch has twice the thickening power of flour. If you need to substitute cornstarch to thicken liquid in a recipe that calls for ¼ cup (four tablespoons) flour, you only need two tablespoons cornstarch.
Wait until the beans are tender but not quite done to add a splash of apple cider vinegar and a couple teaspoons of salt to the pot. The apple cider vinegar breaks down indigestible sugars to help digestion and also brightens the flavor of the beans without the need for excess salt.
"If your broth is lacking in savory richness, try adding roasted onion, tomato paste, mushrooms, seaweed, soy sauce, or miso. These ingredients add umami flavor and depth to broth," she says. The choice of ingredient depends on the recipe, though.
If a soup is tasting bland in the bowl, consider adding acid rather than salt. A squeeze of lemon or lime, or a dash of yogurt or sour cream can add brightness to the bowl.
Yes.Incredibly effective?You bet. This trick works because the instant mashed potatoes are naturally starchy and therefore are similar in form to other commonly used thickeners, such as cornstarch, only without the clumps.
Bottom Line. If beans make you uncomfortably gassy, sprinkle a little baking soda into their soaking water. It will reduce the volume of gas produced by the legumes, plus, they will cook quicker. If you're even shorter on time, you may want to try some of our favorite recipes to make with a can of black beans.
How to Thicken a Soup with Pureed Beans or Hummus. Blend 1½ cups cooked beans, lentils, or chickpeas with ½ cup water or broth until completely smooth. Add 2 tablespoons bean puree per 1 cup soup or stew, then stir until fully incorporated. Simmer 1 to 2 minutes, until flavors meld.
The broth is boiled from a mix of offal including liver, heart, intestines, stomach, tongue, pig blood curd, as well as pork meat slices, strips of salted vegetables, celtuce and a sprinkle of chopped onion leaves and pepper.
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.
As it turns out, baking soda significantly decreases the levels of raffinose, the gas-causing sugar present in beans. When should you add baking soda to beans? It works best with just a pinch (about 1/16 of a teaspoon) sprinkled into dried beans while they soak in water before cooking.
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.
Introduction: My name is Chrissy Homenick, I am a tender, funny, determined, tender, glorious, fancy, enthusiastic person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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