eHealth Connection
January 2007

Healthy Recipe: 12-Bean Soup

We are happy to share with you a wonderfully hearty winter soup that is sure to please. Beans offer a pleasant change of pace from meat while providing plenty of protein and taste.

2 cups mixed dried beans
(You can find them in 16-ounce packages at your grocery store.)
6 cups of water
1 large onion, chopped
3 celery stalks, chopped
1 red pepper, chopped
1 green pepper, chopped
3 cloves of garlic, minced
4 carrots, peeled and chopped
1 10-ounce package frozen cut green beans
1 large can low-sodium V8 juice
1 14.5-ounce can diced tomatoes, no salt added
To taste: Pepper, marjoram, thyme and oregano

  1. Soak beans overnight in water in a pot that is half-filled with water.
  2. Drain and rinse beans.
  3. Add 6 cups water.
  4. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for about two hours or until beans are tender.
  5. While soup is simmering, sauté the onion, celery, peppers and garlic. Add to beans.
  6. Add carrots and simmer until tender.
  7. Add green beans, V8 juice and tomatoes.
  8. Simmer an additional 30 minutes.

This recipe was published in the book The Best Diet on Earth: Ordinary Foods With Extraordinary Powers by Linda Levy and Francine Grabowski, M.S., R.D., C.D.E. Ms. Grabowski is a registered dietitian at Cooper University Hospital.