Today, I’ll show you how to make a hearty and delicious soup using Goya’s 16-bean soup mix. This soup is perfect for chilly days or when you need to feed a crowd on a budget. It’s vegan-friendly if you skip the optional ham, but you can also substitute the ham with cubed beef if preferred.
Goya’s 16-bean soup mix is a blend of 16 different beans and is commonly found in most grocery stores. It comes in a 1-pound bag and requires overnight soaking before it can be cooked. The mix includes pinto, white, pink, red, and kidney beans, as well as chickpeas, pigeon peas, lima beans, butter beans, peas, and lentils. With its nutty flavor and creamy texture, this soup is incredibly satisfying. While the 16-bean blend is the star ingredient, you can easily customize it by adding or omitting other ingredients as you like.
To make this soup, you will need:
- 1 bag of Goya 16-bean soup mix
- 2 tablespoons of olive oil
- 1 onion, chopped
- 4 cloves of garlic, chopped or minced
- 2 carrots, peeled and diced
- 2 celery stalks, diced
- 1 bay leaf
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 8 cups of vegetable broth
- 2 teaspoons of dried thyme
- 2 teaspoons of dried rosemary
- 2 teaspoons of smoked paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon of cayenne pepper (optional)
- 2 cups of chopped ham or beef (optional)
- 4 cups of baby spinach (optional)
Step# 1 is to soak the beans overnight. Rinse the beans and place them in a large bowl. Cover them with water by several inches and refrigerate. The next day, drain and rinse the beans again.
Step# 2 is to cook the soup. Heat the oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add the onion, garlic, carrot, celery, bay leaf, salt, and pepper, and cook for about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until soft. Add the broth, thyme, rosemary, paprika, cayenne pepper (if using), and ham (if using), and bring to a boil. Add the beans and lower the heat to a simmer. Cover and cook for about an hour and a half, or until the beans are tender.
Final Step: Add the spinach (optional). Stir in the spinach and cook for another 5 minutes, until wilted. Taste and adjust the seasoning if needed. Remove the bay leaf and serve hot with crusty bread, cornbread, or vegetable crackers.
That’s it! You have a delicious 16-bean soup that will warm you up and fill you up. Enjoy!
