Luscious Lima Bean Soup

Ingredients and Weight:

• 2 cups (1 lb) dried lima beans, picked over and rinsed
• 1 onion (1 cup), chopped
• 2 carrots (1 cup), chopped
• 2 celery stalks (1 cup), chopped
• 2 cloves garlic (2 tsp), minced
• 6 cups (48 oz) chicken broth
• 2 cups (16 oz) water
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley (optional)

Preparation Time:

15 minutes

Cooking Time:

1 hour 30 minutes

Difficulty Level:

2 (easy)

Preparation Method Steps:

1. In a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat, sauté the onion, carrots, and celery in a little bit of olive oil until softened, about 5 minutes.
2. Add the garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.
3. Stir in the lima beans, chicken broth, water, salt, and pepper. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 1 hour, or until the beans are tender.
4. Use an immersion blender or transfer the soup to a regular blender and puree until smooth. (If using a blender, work in batches to avoid any spills.)
5. Return the puréed soup to the pot and heat through.
6. Garnish with fresh parsley before serving.

Nutritional Information:

• Calories: 200
• Fat: 3g
• Saturated Fat: 1g
• Cholesterol: 0mg
• Sodium: 300mg
• Carbohydrates: 35g
• Dietary Fiber: 10g
• Protein: 10g

Dish Characteristics:

• Creamy and comforting
• Slightly sweet and savory flavors
• Packed with protein and fiber
• Perfect for a light lunch or a cozy dinner

User Comments:

• "This soup is absolutely delicious! The lima beans are so creamy and the flavors are well-balanced."
• "I love that it's so easy to make and it's a great way to get my daily dose of protein."
• "I added some shredded chicken for a bit of extra flavor."
• "I'm not usually a fan of lima beans, but this soup converted me."
• "This is a perfect soup for a cold winter day."

Special Precautions and Tips:

• If you don't have an immersion blender, you can use a potato masher to mash the beans before blending in a regular blender.
• You can adjust the consistency of the soup by adding more or less water or milk.
• For a vegan version, use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth.