Creamy doesn’t always need to equate to cream, and this totally dairy-free soup is proof. Undrained canned white beans are blended with slow-cooked aromatics and vegetable broth to result in a luscious vegan soup that’s anything but boring. While I typically like to drain and rinse canned beans, wary of any tinned flavor the liquid imparts, here that liquid lends starchy richness to the soup and the fear of off flavors dissipates with a 30 minute simmer. What makes this soup extra special is the vibrant herb garnish, called gremolata, that’s sprinkled on top right before serving. This is the perfect soup for weeknights and special occasions alike.
What Is Gremolata?
Gremolata is an Italian condiment of chopped fresh parsley, garlic, and lemon zest. It hails from the northern region of Lombardy, where it is traditionally used as a garnish for osso buco, a Milanese dish of braised veal shank. The fresh, herbaceous condiment lends welcomed brightness and contrast to the rich dish.
Here, gremolata provides the same vibrancy. This version of the condiment is a riff on the classic, however. In addition to parsley, garlic, and lemon zest, it features crumbled fried sage leaves, which lends an earthy, warming flavor profile that’s particularly fitting in these colder months.
Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek
Swaps and Substitutions
Any white beans can be used to make this soup. I love meaty cannellini beans, but Great Northern or navy beans also work well. If you prefer to use beans you’ve cooked from scratch rather than canned beans, swap in 4 1/2 cups of cooked white beans with their cooking liquid. And if you don’t need to keep this soup vegan, low-sodium chicken broth can be used instead of the vegetable broth.
You can also riff on the gremolata. Try using orange zest instead of lemon zest or swap the sage leaves for fresh rosemary needles that you’ve stripped from their stem. Just use the needles from about 5 medium sprigs, fry them in olive oil as you would the sage leaves, and coarsely chop them.
What to Serve With This Soup
You can easily turn this soup into a wholesome dinner with a side of crusty bread for dunking and salad or vegetable on the side. A few great side dish recipes to pair with white bean soup are: