This nourishing and easy to make Winter soup recipe combines spicy heat and warming earthiness with shell beans, fresh herbs and garlic - a healthy family meal.
Serves 6
INGREDIENTS:
8 oz. shell beans
6 cups water
1 large onion, finely chopped
2 celery sticks, thinly sliced
1 cup uncooked rice
1 cup fresh or frozen shrimp. deveined and deshelled
2 tbsp. fresh garden herbs, finely chopped (lemon balm, parsley, chives, cilantro)
1 large clove elephant garlic, crushed
1 tbsp. Cajun seasoning
2 tsp. salt
3 tsp. coarsely ground black pepper
METHOD:
Bring water to a boil in a deep pan. Add beans, onion, celery sticks, garden herbs, bay leaf, elephant garlic, Cajun seasoning, salt and black pepper. Boil rapidly for 15 minutes until frothy. Remove froth with a spoon and discard.
Reduce heat and simmer for 1 hour. Add rice. Cook another 55 minutes. Add shrimp and simmer gently for 5 minutes. Serve red hot with a light salad and buttered bread for a complete meal.
