Tasty Vegetarian Five Bean Soup

There is nothing so satisfying as a warm bowl of flavorful, filling and comforting five bean soup on a snowy winter day. I know that sometimes it is hard to obtain a full flavored bean soup if it does not contain a seasoning meat, but I think this one is very successful! I made both a herb seasoning packet for the soup plus  homemade vegetarian bouillon granules. That homemade bouillon made all the difference. This became a “Homemade Soup in a Jar” that makes four quarts of soup mix. Each quart jar makes about 2 1/2 quarts of soup. With the holiday season right around the corner, a jar of homemade soup mix makes a thoughtful gift. Are you having a gift exchange at work? Maybe a gift exchange at school or your card club?  Putting together these jars of soup mix would be a great cooking/craft project for kids.

Let’s get started!

First we’ll put all the jars together, then cook up a kettle of deliciousness!

Tasty Vegetarian Five Bean Soup

Chock full of savory goodness, this soup will warm the cockles of your heart on a cold winter's evening. Onions, celery, garlic, parsley and thyme provide tons of flavor in each spoonful. Give yourself 2 1/2 to 3 hours to prep and cook. Each jar will make about 2-1/2 quarts of soup.

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Prep Time 30 minutes mins

Cook Time 2 hours hrs

Total Time 2 hours hrs 31 minutes mins

Servings 2 quarts

Ingredients

  

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Dry soup mix

• 1 lb baby lima beans
• 1 lb navy beans
• 1 lb green split peas
• 1 lb black turtle beans
• 1 lb red kidney beans
• 3 Tbsp dried celery leaves
• 1 Tbsp ground black pepper
• 1 Tbsp Paprika
• 2 Tbsp dehydrated onions
• 2 Tbsp Kosher Salt
• 2 Tbsp Garlic Powder
• 2 Tbsp dried parsley
• 1 Tbsp dried thyme
• 1 tsp dried Rosemary crushed
• 8 Bay Leaves
• 8 tsp vegetable bouillon granules store bought or homemade
• 14 oz Can Diced Tomatoes

Gift Jars

• 4 quart size canning jars
• 8 tiny zip bags or wax paper squares
• 4 8 inch diameter rounds of muslin or other cloth. I used a pot lid to trace a pattern
• 4 lengths twine
• 4 gift tags
• 4 written instructions

Vegetable Bouillon Granules

• 2 Tbsp Nutritional Yeast
• 2 Tbsp Kosher Salt
• 1 tsp dried parsley leaves
• 1 tsp Onion Powder I used dehydrated onions because that's what I had.
• 1 tsp Garlic Powder
• 1 tsp celery seeds
• 1/4 tsp Pepper
• 1 dried bay leaf-crumbled

Instructions

 

Gift jars

• In each quart jar, layer 2/3 cup of each of the five beans. I started with the baby limas, green peas, red kidney beans, navy beans, then the black turtle beans.
  
• In a small bowl, combine all the herbs and spices EXCEPT the bay leaves and the vegetable bouillon granules.
• Spoon 3 Tbsp of the herb mixture into each of 4 small zip bags and top with 2 bay leaves per bag. Alternately, cut small squares of wax paper and spoon the herbs onto the squares. Fold and tape closed. Place bags on top of the beans.
  
• In 4 tiny zip bags, spoon 2 tsp of the vegetable bouillon granules. Close and snug the bags on top of the beans.
  
• Place a written recipe on top of a jar lid. Cover with a piece of muslin. Screw on the jar lid, then decorate as you desire.
  

Vegetarian Five Bean Soup

• Rinse all the beans and drain well. Place beans in a large soup kettle and cover with 1 inch of water. The beans should be one inch under water.
  
• Bring to a boil, remove from heat, cover and let sit for one hour.
  
• Drain and rinse the beans again, then return to the kettle.
  
• Stir in the can of tomatoes, six cups water, the herb packet and the vegetable bouillon granules.
  
• Bring to a boil, lower heat and simmer for 2 1/2 to 3 hours until beans are tender.
  
• Remove the bay leaves and serve hot.
  
• Perfect served with a nice piece of freshly baked corn bread!
  

Homemade Vegetable Bouillon

• Add all the ingredients to a small food processor or electric coffee grinder and process until it is a powder like consistency.
  

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!