Friend of The Bean and Rancho Gordo pal, Arnab Chaladar, helps us out with Indian-inspired bean dishes (and good whisky recommendations on his My Annoying Opinions blog), but here he goes for something simple and classic, perfect for soup season. 

 

Ingredients

• 2 cups cooked Rancho Gordo flageolet beans (beans cooked simply with a lot of water and a couple of small parmesan rinds and drained; bean broth reserved)
• 6 cups bean broth (from cooking the beans) and/or vegetable stock
• The white (and light green) portions from four plump leeks cut into chunks. 4-5 chunks per leek. Reserve the greens proper for another use.
• 8-10 cloves garlic
• 1 tblspn fish sauce
• 1 tspn lime juice (optional)
• Salt
• Pepper
• Olive oil

Preparation

1. While the beans are cooking, place the leek portions in a small oven-proof dish with the garlic nestled inside/between them. Drizzle generously with olive oil, add salt and pepper and roast uncovered in a 400º oven till softened and lightly caramelized.
2. Puree the roasted leeks and garlic and keep aside.
3. Add the drained flageolets and 6 cups of the bean broth or vegetable stock to your soup pot and raise to a high simmer.
4. Mix in the leek-garlic puree and the fish sauce and simmer for another 5-7 minutes.
5. Adjust salt and pepper, drizzle olive oil over and serve with crusty bread.

Notes

• For a variation, keep one roasted leek aside, chop it fine and use to garnish the soup.
• For another creamier variation, puree 1/2 cup of the beans with the roasted leeks and garlic.
• For a vegan version use veg stock instead of parmesan rinds and tamari instead of fish sauce