Healthy Pasta and Bean Soup Recipes

Healthy Pasta and Bean Soup

 
The thing about most soups is that they can borderline on being bland. This soup on the other hand is a meal on its own, with delicious flavors that keep you coming back for more.

Ingredients:
1 cup dried beans, Lima, kidney or pinto beans
Cold water to cook the beans in 1/2 cup dried split peas or dried red lentils
1 cup uncooked pasta, any of the small kind
6 cups chicken broth
1/2 cup chopped carrot
2 cups water
2 tbsp olive oil
1 cup chopped celery
2 bay leaves
2 slices bacon, roughly chopped
1/2 cup chopped onion
2 garlic cloves, minced Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:
1. In a small pot, add the beans and cold water, just enough to cover the beans and bring it to a boil.
2. Boil it for 2 minutes, turn off the burner and set the beans aside to soak in the hot water for an hour.
3. After an hour, drain away the excess liquid. The soaking should have softened the beans and to be easily cooked.
4. In a large crock pot, heat the 2 tbsp of olive oil.
5. Add in the onions, bay leaves and garlic and sauté for a minute on medium heat.
6. Once the onions are cooked, add in the chopped celery and carrots. Sauté until nicely cooked. This should take about 10 minutes over medium heat.
7. Next, add in the two cups of water,
6 cups of chicken broth, beans and peas.
8. Cover and cook on high heat for 8 hours.
9. After 8 hours, add in the pasta and cook for another 15 minutes or until the pasta is cooked.
10. Add salt and pepper to taste.
11. Serve hot just on its own or with a slice of toast.