Go Back
–+ servings
Hearty Wheat Berry and White Bean Soup – vegetarian recipe
Stav Kogan

Hearty Wheat Berry and White Bean Soup

This Hearty Wheat Berry and White Bean Soup is the epitome of rustic comfort food. Chewy wheat berries and creamy white beans cook right in the savory, paprika-spiced broth, creating a wonderfully thick and satisfying meal.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Servings: 6 serving
Calories: 297

Ingredients
  

  • ½ cup (100 g / 3.5 oz) dried white beans
  • 2 Tbs / 30ml (1 fl oz) olive oil
  • 1 medium leek, white and light-green parts sliced, about 1 cup / 100g (3.5 oz)
  • 1 carrot, peeled and chopped, about ½ cup / 75g (2.65 oz)
  • 1 celery stalk, trimmed and chopped, about ⅓ cup / 40g (1.41 oz)
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tsp (5 ml) smoked paprika
  • 5 cups (1200 ml) (1.2 L) low-sodium vegetable broth or water
  • 1 14.5-oz / 411g (14.5 oz) can diced, no-salt tomatoes with liquid
  • ½ cup (95 g / 3.35 oz) wheat berries
  • 2 sprigs fresh sage, optional
  • 2 cups (60 g / 2.12 oz) Swiss chard greens, sliced
  • ¼ cup (15 g / 0.53 oz) chopped fresh parsley
  • Experiment with different beans. While white beans are classic, this soup is fantastic with cannellini, Great Northern, or even chickpeas for a different texture.
  • For a gluten-free version, swap the wheat berries for ½ cup of brown rice or quinoa. Note that you may need to adjust the simmering time accordingly.
  • Brighten the flavors just before serving with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice or a drizzle of high-quality balsamic vinegar. It makes a world of difference!
  • This soup tastes even better the next day! Store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. You may need to add a splash of broth when reheating as the grains will absorb more liquid.

Method
 

  1. Place the white beans in a medium bowl, cover with cold water, and let them soak overnight.
  2. Drain and set aside. 2.
  3. Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan or Dutch oven over medium-high heat.
  4. Add the leek, carrot, and celery.
  5. Sauté for 5 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables soften and begin to brown at the edges.
  6. Add the minced garlic and smoked paprika, and cook for 1 minute more until fragrant. 3.
  7. Stir in the vegetable broth, diced tomatoes with their liquid, wheat berries, soaked beans, and sage sprigs, if using.
  8. Bring the mixture to a boil. 4.
  9. Once boiling, reduce the heat to medium-low, cover the pan partially, and let it simmer for about 1 hour, or until the wheat berries and beans are tender. If the soup becomes too thick, add a splash more broth or water. 5.
  10. Stir in the sliced Swiss chard and fresh parsley.
  11. Cook for 5 more minutes, until the chard has wilted.
  12. Remove the sage sprigs, season with salt and pepper to taste, and serve hot.

Nutrition

Calories: 297kcalCarbohydrates: 47gProtein: 11gFat: 7g

Tried this recipe?

Let us know how it was!