Celestial Bean Bisque
This celestial bean bisque is a hearty and flavorful soup that's perfect for a cold winter night. The beans are simmered in a vegetable broth until they're tender, then pureed until smooth. The resulting bisque is creamy and delicious, with a subtle sweetness from the carrots and a hint of herbal flavor from the thyme. It's the perfect comfort food for a cold winter night.
The story of this celestial bean bisque begins in the ancient city of Ur, in Mesopotamia. Around 4000 BC, the people of Ur were known for their love of beans. They grew a variety of beans, including chickpeas, lentils, and cannellini beans. Cannellini beans were a particular favorite, and they were often used in soups and stews. **[1]** One day, a young woman named Inanna was cooking a pot of bean soup when she had a vision. She saw a beautiful goddess, dressed in white, standing in the middle of the soup pot. The goddess told Inanna that she was the goddess of beans, and that she had come to give Inanna a gift. The goddess reached into the soup pot and pulled out a handful of beans. She gave the beans to Inanna and told her that they were magic beans. She said that if Inanna planted the beans, they would grow into a giant beanstalk that would reach to the heavens. **[2]** Inanna was overjoyed. She planted the beans in her garden, and sure enough, they grew into a giant beanstalk. Inanna climbed the beanstalk and found herself in a magical land in the sky. She met many wonderful creatures in the sky land, including a talking rabbit, a wise old owl, and a beautiful princess. **[3]** Inanna stayed in the sky land for many years, but eventually she began to miss her home. She climbed down the beanstalk and returned to Ur. She told her people about her adventures in the sky land, and they were amazed by her stories. **[4]** The people of Ur began to plant magic beans in their gardens, and soon there were giant beanstalks all over the city. The people of Ur would climb the beanstalks and visit the sky land. They would bring back stories of the wonderful creatures they met and the amazing things they saw. **[5]** The celestial bean bisque is a reminder of the ancient story of Inanna and the magic beans. It is a delicious and flavorful soup that is perfect for a cold winter night. It is also a reminder that even the simplest of things can be magical.
Celestial Bean Bisque Celestial Bean Bisque Celestial Bean Bisque Celestial Bean Bisque
Prep time: 15 | Cook time: 60 | Serves: 4
Ingredients
  • 1 cup dried cannellini beans
  • 6 cups vegetable broth
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 2 carrots, chopped
  • 2 celery stalks, chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
Instructions
  1. In a large pot or Dutch oven, combine the beans, broth, onion, carrots, celery, garlic, thyme, and salt. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 1 hour, or until the beans are tender.
  2. Use an immersion blender or transfer the mixture to a regular blender and puree until smooth.
  3. Return the bisque to the pot and heat through. Serve hot, garnished with fresh herbs or a drizzle of olive oil.
Why It Works
  • The combination of cannellini beans, vegetable broth, onion, carrots, celery, garlic, thyme, and salt creates a flavorful and hearty soup.
  • Pureeing the soup until smooth gives it a creamy and delicious texture.
  • Garnishing the soup with fresh herbs or a drizzle of olive oil adds a touch of elegance and flavor.