Creamy Quinoa and Bean Soup with Spirulina: a concentrate of flavor and health! This soup is a true delight of goodness and health. Creamy quinoa blends with beans, rich in proteins and fiber, and spirulina, an algae with many beneficial properties. The result is a unique dish, perfect for a light and nutritious dinner. Rich in proteins, fibers, and vitamins, this soup is ideal for those following a vegetarian or vegan diet. Moreover, it is easy to prepare and requires only a few ingredients. The creamy consistency and delicate yet flavorful taste, thanks to the addition of onion, garlic, carrots, and spices, make it a perfect dish for a light dinner or nutritious lunch. Here are some reasons why you should try this recipe: It is rich in proteins, fibers, and vitamins. It is easy to prepare and requires only a few ingredients. It is vegan and gluten-free. It is delicious and nutritious. What are you waiting for? Try this recipe today!
Tips: You can use any type of beans you prefer. If you don’t have spirulina, you can purchase it on the website ethos sostenibile or replace it with another green algae powder. To make the soup even creamier, you can add some coconut milk or plant-based cream. Serve with croutons or brown rice. Enjoy your meal!
- Difficulty: Very Easy
- Cost: Very Cheap
- Rest time: 10 Minutes
- Preparation time: 10 Minutes
- Portions: 4
- Cooking methods: Boiling, Slow Cooking, Stove
- Cuisine: Italian
- Seasonality: All Seasons
- Energy 354.48 (Kcal)
- Carbohydrates 51.94 (g) of which sugars 4.11 (g)
- Proteins 19.50 (g)
- Fat 5.80 (g) of which saturated 1.49 (g)of which unsaturated 2.68 (g)
- Fibers 14.91 (g)
- Sodium 197.61 (mg)
Indicative values for a portion of 250 g processed in an automated way starting from the nutritional information available on the CREA* and FoodData Central** databases. It is not food and / or nutritional advice.
* CREATES Food and Nutrition Research Center: https://www.crea.gov.it/alimenti-e-nutrizione https://www.alimentinutrizione.it ** U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. FoodData Central, 2019. https://fdc.nal.usda.gov
Ingredients
- 10.5 oz dried cannellini beans (Or pre-cooked)
- 1 stalk celery
- 1 clove garlic
- 2 g coarse salt
- 4 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1 quart water
- 7 oz quinoa
- 2 tbsp Spirulina
- dried red chili (Chili flakes)
Tools
- 1 Earthenware Pot
Steps
To make the creamy quinoa and bean soup with spirulina, I used dried beans, but you can easily use pre-cooked ones, which are equally excellent. If you choose pre-cooked ones, blanch them with water, after sautéing celery, bay leaf, and garlic with a tablespoon of water to flavor them before adding the quinoa. This soup is a real treat for the palate: a concentrate of flavor and health that the whole family will love!
If you’re using dried beans, after soaking them for 12 hours, cook them in water with celery, bay leaf, and a garlic clove. This way, you’ll retain the natural flavor of the beans. Add salt and oil only at the end of cooking. For more on this cooking technique, here’s a link on how to cook natural dried beans.
When the beans are ready, add the quinoa directly into the cooking water and let it cook following the cooking times indicated on the package. Stir often and add hot water or vegetable broth if necessary.
Finally, when the quinoa is ready, turn off the heat and add 2 tablespoons of spirulina. Stir well to incorporate the spirulina into the soup, then cover the pot and let it rest for a few minutes. This way, the flavors will have time to meld and the soup will be even more delicious.
After letting the creamy quinoa and bean soup with spirulina rest, you can enhance the unique flavor of this blue-green algae in various ways. For an even creamier consistency and a more intense taste, you can add coconut milk. If you prefer a bolder flavor, you can add spices to your liking, such as curry, paprika, or chili pepper. Personally, I love to let the spirulina be the star, adding only a drizzle of raw extra virgin olive oil per serving and a pinch of salt and pepper.
Your creamy quinoa and bean soup with spirulina is ready to be enjoyed! For a final touch of color and spiciness, I garnished it with chili flakes. Let your creativity run wild and choose the variant that tickles your palate the most and enjoy your meal from DadCook!
Other Variants
For a creamy touch, add a drizzle of fresh cream or Greek yogurt.
For a more intense flavor, add a pinch of curry, paprika, or chili powder.
For a crunchy touch, add croutons or toasted seeds.
Wines to Pair with Creamy Quinoa and Bean Soup with Spirulina:
The creamy quinoa and bean soup with spirulina is a dish with a complex and interesting flavor. The earthy notes of quinoa pair well with the savory taste of beans, while spirulina adds a touch of freshness and a bright green color. Here are some wines that pair well with this soup:
White Wine:
Vermentino: A Ligurian white wine with notes of citrus, herbs, and almonds. Sauvignon Blanc: A fresh and aromatic white wine with notes of gooseberry, grapefruit, and green pepper. Riesling: A German white wine with notes of green apple, peach, and white flowers.
Rosé Wine:
Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo: An Abruzzo rosé wine with notes of cherry, strawberry, and dog rose. Bardolino Chiaretto: A Veneto rosé wine with notes of strawberry, raspberry, and acacia flowers.
Red Wine:
Pinot Noir: A light and fruity red wine with notes of cherry, raspberry, and strawberry. Sangiovese: A Tuscan red wine with notes of cherry, plum, and tobacco.
The choice of wine depends on your personal tastes and the intensity of the soup’s flavor. If the soup is very flavorful, you might prefer a more full-bodied red wine. If the soup is more delicate, a white or rosé wine will be more suitable. Here are some tips for pairing wine with food: Consider the weight of the dish. Light dishes pair better with light wines, while more robust dishes pair better with more full-bodied wines. Consider the flavors of the dish. White wines pair well with dishes with acidic or creamy flavors, while red wines pair well with dishes with more robust flavors. Consider your personal preferences. Choose a wine that you like and that pairs well with your taste. I hope these tips help you choose the perfect wine for your creamy quinoa and bean soup with spirulina!
