Deliciously Herby Persian Bean Soup with Croutons | Rebel Recipes (2024)

FAQs

How do you thicken ham and bean soup broth? ›

You can use flour, cornstarch, arrowroot or potato starch as a thickening agent; whisk up to 4 tablespoons with a cup of hot broth and add it to the pot. You can use a slurry in conjunction with a roux but in that case, choose a starch for the slurry other than flour.

Ash Reshteh is no exception to the rule. A wholesome bowl packed full of Persian noodles ('reshteh'), kidney beans, chickpeas, green lentils, cooked with fresh herbs and greens and flavoured with kashk (a fermented / preserved food made with the whey left over from cheese-making).

Let's get this straight: You do not have to soak dry beans for soups and stews. Dried beans are just as easy to cook as canned; they just take more time. Simply toss them into the pot with lots of vegetables and seasonings, cover with water or stock, and let them simmer away on their own while you go about your day.

Cornstarch, or corn flour, can be used to thicken soup through its high starch content. Cornstarch is a great thickener for soup because only a little bit is needed to significantly thicken a soup, and it will not affect the flavor profile of the soup.

This soup-thickening hack couldn't be easier. Unlike using flour, which requires either making a little roux before you start cooking or a beurre manié afterwards, or using a cornstarch slurry that can create a gloppy texture, the instant mashed potato flakes can simply be sprinkled into the finished dish.

Warm, healthy and tasty, Aush (also transliterated as Ash or Aash) is a thick Iranian soup and comes in many different types and has a special place in Iranian food culture and traditions as a complete Iranian dinner table never misses Aush.

Aash, pronounced “Osh”, can also be spelled Ash, Aash, or Aush. To fully understand the significance of Aash in Persian cuisine, we need to have a little bit of a Farsi lesson. In old spoken Farsi, the word Aash referred to any prepared food, not just to this thick soup.

Substitute Reshteh for an equal amount of dried udon noodles or spaghetti. Sour cream can be substituted for the kashk, but kashk is such a unique taste that it is worth going the extra mile to get your hands on it.

Note: Optional embellishments (singly or in combination): Fruity extra-virgin olive oil or a flavored oil such as sage, basil, rosemary or truffle oil, drizzled over each serving; chopped fresh mild herbs such as basil, cilantro, chives, flat-leaf parsley, sprinkled over each serving; hard aged cheese, such as ...

These delicate guys are best for soups, purées, and other applications that don't hinge on having totally intact beans. Their thinner skins mean they have a tendency to burst and release starchiness into their cooking liquid. Try: borlotti, pinto, adzuki, cannellini, navy.

When to add tomatoes to beans? ›

Save acid for last

Using acid when cooking dry beans does hinder the beans' ability to soften appropriately, resulting in extended cooking times and an uneven, unpleasant texture. Add acidic ingredients, such as tomatoes, vinegar, or citrus, late in the cooking process, or use them as a post-cooking seasoning.

If you find yours is too runny, you have several options for making it thicker. Try adding breadcrumbs, cream or pureed vegetables to make a heartier ham and beans. If you don't have any extra ingredients, you can add a vegetable-based starch. Cornstarch will thicken your meal without changing its flavor.

Rice, lentils, and beans release a lot of starch and naturally thicken soups simply from simmering, but you can also mash half the cooked rice/lentils/beans before adding to the soup for a simple way to thicken your dish. Alternatively, blend half or all of the soup for a smoother texture.

I like my juices thick with my beans, therefore in a separate bowl. I added 1/4 cup of cornstarch or flour and 1/4 cup of water to make a thickening paste. Then, slowly add your thickening paste to the boiling beans and ham. Be sure to stir as you add it in.