Oprah's Hawaiian Bean and Vegetable Soup Recipe

Oprah Winfrey is a devoted soup lover, and in her latest book showcasing her favorite dishes, this vibrant Hawaiian Bean Vegetable Soup stands out as a must-try. Packed with wholesome ingredients and bold flavors, it's a nourishing recipe perfected over years of culinary expertise.

Ingredients
Serves 6

• 370 g dried large lima or cranberry beans (or 1100 g cooked beans, drained)
• 2 bay leaves
• 2 tsp salt
• 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 1 small onion, finely chopped
• ½ red bell pepper, without seeds and finely chopped
• 3 celery stalks, finely chopped
• 2 medium winter carrots, finely chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, crushed
• 2 tbsp chili flakes
• 1.5 liters of chicken stock
• 1 strip of orange peel, preferably dried, or 2 tsp grated orange peel
• 1 star anise
• 5 cm fresh ginger root, in very thin slices
• 4 tbsp peanut butter without pieces of nuts
• 60 g finely chopped Swiss chard

Garnish

• Bean sprouts
• Finely chopped fresh coriander
• Splash of lime juice
• Strips of serrano pepper
• Freshly grated ginger
• Grated orange peel
• Splash of sherry

Preparation
Soak the dried beans in plenty of water for at least 8 hours or overnight. Drain and transfer to a large saucepan with 1 bay leaf and some salt. Bring to a boil over high heat, then simmer on low for 1 hour. Drain, discard the bay leaf, and purée one-third of the beans in a blender.

Rinse and dry the saucepan. Heat the oil over medium-low heat. Sauté the onion, bell pepper, celery, carrots, and 2 tsp salt for 10 minutes until softened but not browned. Add garlic and chili flakes, frying for 2 minutes until fragrant. Stir in the whole beans, puréed beans, stock, orange peel, star anise, ginger, peanut butter, and remaining bay leaf. Increase heat to high, bring to a gentle boil, and stir to fully dissolve the purée and peanut butter.

Reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes. Add Swiss chard and cook for 2 minutes until wilted. Remove the orange peel, bay leaf, and star anise. Divide garnishes among bowls, ladle soup over top, and finish with a splash of sherry. Serve alongside jasmine rice for an authentic touch.

For more recipes, see the May issue of Santé.

Source & Image: Oprah's Favorite Dishes, $22.99 at AKO.