Green Herb Soup Food

BEAN AND GREEN HERB STEW

Steps:

• Drain the kidney beans and rinse. Place in a large saucepan and add 1 quart fresh water. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat and skim off any foam. Add the bay leaf, halved onion, 1 of the garlic cloves, and salt to taste. Reduce the heat to low, cover and simmer 1 hour. Remove the bay leaf and halved onion and discard.
• Meanwhile, heat 3 tablespoons oil over medium heat in a heavy soup pot or Dutch oven and add the sliced onion. Cook, stirring often, until it begins to color. Turn the heat to low, add a generous pinch of salt and continue to cook, stirring often, until the onion is dark brown and has melted down to about half its original volume, about 20 minutes. Stir in the remaining garlic and cook, stirring, until it is fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the beans with their broth and bring to a simmer. Simmer, partly covered, for 30 to 60 minutes, until the beans are tender. Taste and adjust salt.
• Add the spinach by the handful, stirring until wilted before adding the next handful, until all of the spinach has been added. Stir in the herbs and scallions. Using a needle, pierce the limes in a few places and add them along with 1/2 cup of their soaking water (if you aren't using the limes, just add an additional 1/2 cup water). Simmer for 10 to 15 minutes, until the greens and herbs are tender but still bright. Taste and adjust salt. Add pepper. Remove the dried limes before serving.
• Serve with lemon wedges and squeeze fresh lemon juice into each bowl.

CREAM OF HERB SOUP

Steps:

• Melt 3 tablespoons butter in a large saucepan. Saute onions until tender, about 10 minutes. Add spinach, basil or watercress (see Cook's Note), and parsley. Cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer 10 minutes.
• Stir in broth and sugar. Simmer, covered, for 30 minutes. Slowly stir in cream.
• In a separate pan, melt 2 tablespoons butter over medium heat. Stir in flour and cook, stirring constantly, until flour loses its raw smell, about 2 minutes. Whisk in a little of the hot soup into the flour mixture, mixing until smooth. Pour roux mixture slowly into the soup, stirring constantly. Bring just to a boil, and remove from heat. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Serve in warm bowls with a parsley garnish.

GREEN HERB SOUP

Steps:

• Melt butter, add green onions, and fry over a low heat until tender. Add diced potato and stir for 1 minute. Add lettuce. Cover with water and bring to a boil. Simmer for 20 minutes. Stir in lemon juice and pepper. Using a blender blend until smooth OR push soup through a sieve if no blender is available. Add herbs and cream. Chill.