Whte Bean Soup

[Captain Smollett]

Several years ago, we picked up a copy of Cruising Cuisine by Kay Pastorius, hoping this to be a good list of recipes to cook under way in a one-burner, one pot galley.

It wasn't that.  Pastorius has cruised for about 14 years, mostly in Mexico, on a larger boat with a 110V based galley (reefer, appliances), and pretty much ALL of the recipes are for in-port dining.

But that does not mean there are not some tasty recipes in there.  The Chicken Picatta we had our second night in Charleston was superb.

This time, we tried the White Bean Soup.  The interesting thing about this soup is that you make the base soup, then can use it in various ways over the several days the soup lasts.

Ingredients:

1 lb dry white beans (we could not find these locally, so substituted canned Northern Beans)
4 carrots, chopped
2 onions, chopped
3 ribs celery, chopped
6 gloves garlic, finely chopped (I just used a press, and used 6 LARGE cloves, but we like garlic)
2 lbs plum tomatoes, or 1 28 oz can tomatoes
2 quarts chicken stock (use a little less if canned, cooked beans are used)
1 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp dried red chili (I substituted about 1/4 tsp chili powder)
Ground Black Pepper
1 chicken bouillon cube

Put everything in the p-cooker, bring to high pressure and cook for 20 minutes.  Slow-release steam.

Meal 1: (the one we tried)

Put some cut up cooked chicken in the bottom of a bowl, ladle soup over it.

YUMMY Stuff!!  Even the children liked it (they are iffy on soups).

Other Meals:

put a cut up fried tortilla in the bottom of a bowl, ladle only liquid from soup over.

Serve with spinach; she used chard and added her Italian Bruschetta Sauce

Instead of chicken, use sausage or ham.  I guess just about any meat would go good here, and probably even fish, too.

It's a fair amount of work, not just "throw things in a pot" (I'm referring to the chopping), but it is quite tasty.  Probably a good one to keep in mind when for a 'nicer' meal or entertaining guests in-port.

[vinegarj]

i love white bean soup.  make it all the time.  fwiw and in the spirit of KISS, i've found little difference in the final product if i forego the chicken broth and just use water.  this also results in a less salty and less fat concoction.  also, if you want to get fancy (and not KISS), when the soup is done, take a third of it out of the pot and puree it.  then return it to the pot and mix.   makes for a more creamy soup.   good stuff.   if you have to have some meat in your meals and you're on a budget, you can cut up a few hotdogs and toss them in....that'll bring up the flavor and salt a bit, and really impress your new island girlfriend :)  (better yet, add some chunks of local fish....yes!)