Lesya 
Homemade soups of different kinds are very popular in Ukraine at any time of the year, and especially during the winter season. Soups made from beans and peas are simple to cook and are very nourishing too. It is now that we know that beans and peas are rich in protein, potassium, vitamin C, and iron. However, our moms didn’t go that far to learn that bean and pea soups could make a tasty and satisfying dinner for the whole family.
Here is one of the soup recipes, which originates in Western Ukraine and uses beans and mushrooms. If you have dried mushrooms, soak them overnight and add the water in which the mushrooms soaked to your soup. However, simply fresh brown mushrooms or a combination of portobello, shiitake, and oyster mushrooms will suffice and will help create a delicious and filling soup too. We didn’t add potatoes to this soup as beans contain enough carbs; however, if you like your soups with potatoes, feel free to add them and enjoy this warming soup!
Soup with Beans and Mushrooms
Equipment
- 1 Skillet
- 1 Pot
Ingredients
- 1 cup Romano (cranberry) beans soaked overnight
- 300 g Brown mushrooms or any other kind of mushrooms
- 1 Onion
- 1 Small carrot
- 2-3 Bay leaves
- Black pepper
- ½ tspn Paprika
- 1 tspn Dried parsley, chives, coriander
- Fresh parsley, dill, cilantro, green onions
Instructions
Method of preparation:
- Soak the beans overnight and strain them the next day.1
- Fill ¾th of the pot with water and bring the water to a boil. Add beans, reduce the heat to medium and boil them for about one hour.2
- Chop finely onion and garlic, and grate carrots.
- Preheat the frying pan, add vegetable oil and reduce the heat to medium. Sauté onion, garlic, and carrots for about 5-7 minutes. Put aside.
- Slice the mushrooms.3
- When the beans become tender, add the fried onion and carrots, as well as sliced mushrooms to the broth. Add dried parsley, chives, coriander, and black pepper. Continue to boil on low heat for about 20 minutes.
- Once the soup is ready, add salt to taste and sprinkle your soup with chopped green parsley, dill, cilantro, or spring onions.
- Serve warm.4
