EASY PORTUGUESE-STYLE BEAN SOUP

Easy Portuguese-Style Bean Soup image

One day I was looking at Portuguese recipes and decided to put together a bean soup that embraced the bright and spicy flavors of Portugal. My family liked it so much, it became a classic in our household. To save time and work, the sausage, vegetables and herbs can all be prepped in minutes with a food processor. -Steven Vance, Woodland, Washington

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories Lunch

Time 7h30m

Yield 17 servings (4-1/4 quarts).

Number Of Ingredients 23

Ingredients

4 cans (15-1/2 ounces each) navy beans, rinsed and drained
5 cups chicken stock
1 pound linguica sausage or smoked sausage, thinly sliced
2 cans (14-1/2 ounces each) petite diced tomatoes, undrained
1 large onion, halved and thinly sliced
1 large sweet red pepper, thinly sliced
2 celery ribs, thinly sliced
2 medium carrots, thinly sliced
1 cup dry white wine or additional chicken stock
4 garlic cloves, minced
2 bay leaves
1 orange zest strip (3 inches)
1 lemon zest strip (3 inches)
1 tablespoon sweet paprika
1 tablespoon hot pepper sauce
1 teaspoon dried savory
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/2 cup chopped green onions
1/2 cup minced fresh cilantro
1/2 cup minced fresh parsley

Steps:

Place the first 20 ingredients in a 7-qt. slow cooker. Cook, covered, on low 7-9 hours or until vegetables are tender. Remove bay leaves and orange and lemon zest strips., Transfer 4 cups soup to a blender; cool slightly. Cover; process until smooth. Return to slow cooker; add green onions, cilantro and parsley. Heat through., Freeze option: Freeze cooled soup in freezer containers. To use, partially thaw in refrigerator overnight. Heat through in a saucepan, stirring occasionally; add a little broth if necessary.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 235 calories, Fat 8g fat (3g saturated fat), Cholesterol 18mg cholesterol, Sodium 893mg sodium, Carbohydrate 28g carbohydrate (4g sugars, Fiber 7g fiber), Protein 14g protein.