North African Bean And Squash Soup Recipes

BUTTERNUT SQUASH AND BEAN SOUP

Steps:

• Soak the beans overnight, or for at least 6 hours, in enough cold water to cover. Drain and transfer to a large pot or Dutch oven. Add the water and bay leaves. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat, and simmer, covered, until almost tender, 45 to 50 minutes. Add 1 tablespoon of the salt and cook 10 more minutes.
• Make the croutons: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spread the bread cubes on a baking sheet and bake until golden brown, 5 to 10 minutes. Transfer the cubes to a large bowl and toss with the garlic, salt, pepper, oil, and sage. Let stand 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat the oil in a second large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the onion, carrot, celery, parsnip, garlic, and sage, and cook until the vegetables have softened but are not colored, about 10 minutes. Add the squash and cook for 10 more minutes. Season with the remaining tablespoon of salt, and the black and Aleppo peppers. Remove from the heat and set aside.
• Spoon 1 cup of the cooked beans along with 1/4 cup of their cooking liquid into a blender and puree until smooth. Using a rubber spatula, scrape the puree into the pan with the vegetables. Add the whole beans with their cooking liquid, the bay leaves, and honey, and simmer until the vegetables are completely tender, about 10 more minutes. Taste and adjust the seasoning if desired.
• Serve the soup in warm bowls, topped with the croutons.

NORTH AFRICAN BEAN STEW WITH BARLEY AND WINTER SQUASH

Steps:

• In a large pot over medium heat, heat oil and cook leeks until they begin to brown, 10 to 12 minutes.
• Finely chop cilantro stems. Stir into pot, along with diced fennel and garlic. Cook for 2 minutes. Stir in baharat, cinnamon and tomato paste, and cook until paste begins to caramelize, about 2 minutes.
• Stir in broth, 3 cups water, the barley and the salt. Bring to a gentle boil, stir in saffron, if using, and reduce heat to medium. Simmer uncovered for 40 minutes. Stir in beans, squash, turnip and lentils; cook until barley is tender, about another 20 to 30 minutes. Taste and adjust seasonings, if desired. Remove cinnamon stick.
• Ladle stew into bowls. Spoon a dollop of yogurt on top and drizzle with olive oil. Garnish with cilantro leaves, fennel fronds and Aleppo pepper or paprika.

SQUASH AND BEAN SOUP

Steps:

• Cut yellow squash and zucchini lengthwise into fourths; cut crosswise into 1/4-inch slices.
• Heat yellow squash, zucchini and remaining ingredients except cheese and cilantro to boiling in Dutch oven; reduce heat. Cover and simmer about 10 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Sprinkle with cheese and cilantro.

SQUASH AND WHITE-BEAN SOUP

Steps:

• Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a medium pot over medium heat until hot but not smoking. Add celery; cook, stirring, 2 minutes. Add onion and garlic; cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, 5 to 7 minutes. Stir in squash and tomatoes; cook until liquid has evaporated, about 5 minutes. Add broth; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low; simmer until squash is tender, 18 to 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, preheat oven to 350 degrees. Use a leaf-shape cutter to cut leaves from bread; arrange on a baking sheet. Brush with remaining tablespoon oil; bake until just golden, about 10 minutes.
• Add beans to pot, and cook until they are warmed through, about 2 to 4 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.

NORTH AFRICAN SOUP (VEGETARIAN)

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a Dutch oven type pan over medium heat. Fry the onions until tender in the olive oil.
• Stir in the paprika. Add about 1 cup water to prevent onions and paprika from burning.
• Add carrots, garlic, tomato paste, tomatoes, cilantro (or parsley), turmeric and cinnamon and more water to cover.
• Simmer until the carrots begin to get slightly tender; add the potatoes and more water, if necessary, to cover. Simmer for about 1/2 hour.
• Add garbanzo beans and lemon juice. Adjust the amount of broth by adding more water if necessary. Simmer until beans are heated through.
• Adjust flavor by adding salt and pepper, if needed.
• Divide between 2 large bowls and garnish with cilantro or parsley.

BEAN AND BUTTERNUT SQUASH SOUP

Steps:

• Place Great Northern beans into a large container and cover with several inches of cool water; let stand 8 hours to overnight. Drain.
• Heat oil in a large pot over medium heat; cook and stir onion and garlic in the hot oil until onion is translucent, 5 to 10 minutes. Add bay leaves and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
• Mix beans, water, and bouillon into onion mixture; bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover pot, and simmer, stirring occasionally, until beans are tender, about 1 hour.
• Stir squash, carrots, celery, salt, black pepper, white pepper, ginger, and allspice into broth mixture; simmer until squash and carrots are tender, about 20 minutes.
• Remove bay leaves from broth mixture and discard. Scoop 2 to 3 cups of vegetable-bean mixture using a slotted spoon from broth; blend broth and remaining vegetable-bean mixture using a hand blender until smooth. Return the vegetable-bean mixture to broth mixture and stir in sausage. Simmer soup until sausage is cooked through, 5 to 10 more minutes.