Smoky Butter Bean and Spinach Hearty Soup (Printable Version)

Rich, comforting soup featuring creamy butter beans, fresh spinach, and subtle smoky flavor for chilly days.

# What You'll Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
02 - 1 large yellow onion, diced
03 - 2 medium carrots, peeled and diced
04 - 2 celery stalks, diced
05 - 3 garlic cloves, minced
06 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
07 - 5 oz baby spinach, roughly chopped

→ Beans & Base

08 - 2 cans (14 oz each) butter beans, drained and rinsed
09 - 1 can (14 oz) diced tomatoes
10 - 4 cups vegetable broth

→ Spices & Flavorings

11 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
12 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
13 - 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
14 - 1 bay leaf
15 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
16 - Juice of 1/2 lemon

→ Garnish (optional)

17 - Fresh parsley, chopped
18 - Crusty bread for serving

# How To Make:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large soup pot over medium heat. Add onion, carrots, and celery. Sauté for 6–8 minutes until softened.
02 - Stir in garlic and red bell pepper. Cook for 2 minutes until fragrant.
03 - Add smoked paprika, cumin, and thyme. Stir well to coat the vegetables evenly.
04 - Pour in diced tomatoes, butter beans, vegetable broth, and bay leaf. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer.
05 - Cover and simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally to develop flavors.
06 - Stir in chopped spinach and cook for 2–3 minutes until wilted.
07 - Remove bay leaf. Stir in lemon juice. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper as needed.
08 - Serve hot, garnished with fresh parsley and accompanied by crusty bread if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Its the kind of soup that makes your whole house smell warm and welcoming
  • The smoky paprika gives it depth without any meat or complicated techniques
  • Ready in under an hour but tastes like it simmered all afternoon
02 -
  • Don't rush the initial vegetable sauté that's where the deep flavor builds
  • Wait until the very end to add the lemon juice it keeps the spinach bright green
  • The soup tastes even better the next day if you can manage to save some
03 -
  • A splash of white wine added with the tomatoes adds lovely complexity
  • If you want it creamy blend just half the soup before adding spinach

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