Soups and Meals

Four Corners Soup Mix

Make a four corners soup mix with beans, lentils, barley and a spice blend, split into 12 gift packages. Each makes about 8 servings of soup.

Four Corners Soup Mix

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A big-batch bean, lentil and barley blend with a spice packet, divided into 12 gift bags. Each package makes a pot of soup with onions, carrots and spinach.
Prep Time30 minutes
Cook Time1 hour 30 minutes
Total Time2 hours
CourseSoup
CuisineAmerican
Servings8 servings
Calories209

Ingredients
  

Bean mix
  • 1 pound dried adzuki beans
  • 1 pound dried Anasazi beans
  • 1 pound dried black beans
  • 1 pound dried pink beans
  • 1 pound dried large lima beans
  • 1 pound dried pinto beans
  • 1 pound dried red kidney beans
  • 1 pound dried red lentils
  • 1 pound barley
Seasoning blend
  • 3 ounces paprika
  • 1 ounce dried oregano
  • 3 tablespoons black pepper
  • 3 tablespoons red pepper (crushed)
  • 1/4 cup onion powder
  • 1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons garlic powder
  • 2 tablespoons ground allspice

Equipment

  • mixing bowl
  • zip-top bags
  • stockpot
  • skillet

Directions
 

Make the mix
  1. Mix the beans, lentils, and barley together and split into 12 bags (about 1 1/2 cups in each).
  2. Stir the seasonings together and split into 12 small bags (about 3 tablespoons in each).
  3. For each package, pair one bag of beans with one bag of seasoning.
To use
  1. Soak the beans overnight, or use the quick method of boiling them and letting them rest.
  2. Brown the onions and carrots, pouring in broth a little at a time until they caramelize. If you are using meat, brown it at the same time.
  3. Add the seasoning, soaked beans, browned vegetables, and about 6 cups broth, then simmer until the beans are tender, roughly 1 1/2 hours.
  4. Right before serving, stir in the thawed spinach.

Notes

Per pot: 1 package soup mix, about 13 ounces; 2 large onions; 2 large carrots; about 8 cups regular-strength chicken broth; 1 package (10 ounces) thawed frozen whole-leaf spinach; optional 1 pound poultry sausage or 1 pound ground turkey or chicken.
Storage: dry mix sealed, cool and dry, up to 12 months. Soup refrigerated, within 4 days; freeze up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Serving: 393g | Calories: 209kcal | Carbohydrates: 38g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 1.3g | Saturated Fat: 0.4g | Trans Fat: 0g | Cholesterol: 0mg | Sodium: 943mg | Potassium: 1020mg | Fiber: 9.4g | Sugar: 5.5g | Vitamin A: 7221IU | Vitamin C: 16mg | Calcium: 118mg | Iron: 4.5mg

Nutrition is an estimate per serving from USDA FoodData Central, as cooked, 8 servings from 1/12 of the mix with 2 large onions, 2 large carrots, about 8 cups regular-strength chicken broth, 1 package (10 ounces) thawed frozen whole-leaf spinach; dried adzuki beans counted as dry adzuki beans, dried Anasazi beans counted as dry adzuki beans, dried black beans counted as dry black beans, dried pink beans counted as dry pink beans, dried large lima beans counted as dry lima beans, dried pinto beans counted as dry pinto beans, dried red kidney beans counted as dry kidney beans, dried red lentils counted as dry lentils (one 1-lb package 454 g), barley counted as dry pearled barley, red pepper counted as red bell pepper, about 8 cups regular-strength chicken broth counted as beef broth. Brands and portions vary, so use it only as an approximation.


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