This hearty plant-based soup gets its velvety creaminess from the addition of tahini, or sesame seed butter. Nut and seed butters can be added to a variety of applications to help thicken or enhance the mouthfeel of a dish. Try stirring a tablespoon or two of your favourite seed or nut butter to sauces, salad dressings, or smoothies.
Nut free? No problem!
You can always substitute the same amount of your favourite seed for the walnuts in this recipe. Pumpkin, hemp, and sunflower all work wonderfully here.
White Bean Dill Soup with Sweet and Smokey Walnuts
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup (125 mL) raw walnut halves
- 3 Tbsp (45 mL) maple syrup
- 1/4 tsp (1 mL) smoked paprika
- 1/4 cup (60 mL) tahini
- 3 Tbsp (45 mL) lemon juice
- 2 Tbsp (30 mL) water
- 1 Tbsp (15 mL) coconut oil or grapeseed oil
- 1 yellow onion, finely diced
- 3 garlic cloves, peeled and minced
- 1 large fennel bulb, stalks and fronds trimmed, bulb finely diced
- 1/2 tsp (2 mL) kosher salt
- 1 tsp (5 mL) fresh thyme leaves
- 2 - 19 oz (540 mL) cans white kidney beans, drained and rinsed
- 3 cups (750 mL) no-salt-added vegetable stock
- 1/2 cup (125 mL) fresh dill fronds, chopped
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Directions
01
Start by making sweet and smoky walnuts. Line baking tray with parchment paper and set aside. In large frying pan, place walnut halves and then place over medium-high heat. Cook, stirring constantly to prevent burning, until walnuts are lightly toasted, about 2 to 3 minutes. Add maple syrup to pan and continue to cook, stirring constantly, until maple syrup has coated walnuts and no syrup, or very little, is left in pan, about another minute. Remove frying pan from heat, sprinkle smoked paprika over candied walnuts, and stir to evenly incorporate. Transfer walnuts to parchment-lined baking tray and spread out as best you can in single layer. Set aside to cool while making soup.
02
In small bowl, whisk together tahini and lemon juice; mixture will thicken. Add water and whisk until mixture is the consistency of pancake batter. Set aside.
03
In large saucepan or Dutch oven, warm oil over medium-high heat. Add onion, garlic, fennel, and salt; sauté until vegetables are translucent and just starting to caramelize, about 5 to 7 minutes. Add thyme and sauté for an additional minute. Stir in broth and beans. Let soup come to a hard simmer before turning down heat to medium-low and allowing soup to simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove saucepan from heat and stir in tahini mixture and dill. Season to taste with pepper.
04
To serve, divide soup among serving bowls and top with some sweet and smoky walnuts. Leftover soup will keep refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
