Spinach Soup with Haricot Beans and Goats Cheese

by Joe Woodhouse

This relies on the aromatics in the beans to add a baseline depth to the overall dish. If using pre-cooked beans, try and find jarred or tetra-pack versions. The beans tend to be much softer.

Method

Based on 4 servings, adjust as needed.

Step 1

Add half the oil to a saucepan and add the sliced garlic cloves along with the bay leaves. Allow the garlic to soften slightly before tipping in the jarred beans including their juices. Heat through before turning off and allowing to infuse.

Step 2

Heat the remaining oil in a large saucepan. Add the diced onion and a pinch of salt. Cook gently for 8-12 minutes until soft and translucent. Add the wine and bring it to a bubble. Add in the spinach and keep stirring to get the wilted leaves to the top and the top leaves to the bottom. Place a lid on and allow to steam for a minute or so, then repeat the stirring ritual. Keep everything moving until the leaves are just wilted. Turn off the heat, transfer to a blender and blitz until smooth. If the mix gets a bit stuck, ladle in some of the bean liquor to help get everything moving.

Step 3

Drain the beans, reserving the cooking liquor. Remove the baby leaves. Add the spinach soup to a pan to warm through with salt and cracked black pepper to your liking. Loosen the mix with the bean liquor to a consistency you like. It wants to be fluid, but not a swimming pool.

Step 4

Divide the soup amongst bowls. Spoon over the beans and top with slices of goats cheese to melt in and a good drizzle of extra virgin olive oil.

  • Ingredients
  • Based on 4 servings
  • 600g Spinach 3x Sainsbury's Young Spinach 260g
  • 570g Jarred White Beans 1x Bold Bean Co Organic White Beans 570g
  • 2 Bay Leaves 1x Sainsbury's Fresh Packed Bay Leaves
  • 2 tbsp Vegetable Oil, or any flavourless oil 1x Sainsbury's Vegetable Oil 1L
  • 2 White Onions, diced 2x Sainsbury's Onions Loose
  • 100ml White Wine 1x Sainsbury's House Sauvignon Blanc (Small bottle) 18.7cl
  • 5 Garlic Cloves, peeled and sliced 1x Sainsbury's Garlic
  • 125g Goats Cheese, sliced 1x Sainsbury's Goats' Cheese, Taste the Difference 120g
  • 2 tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil, to serve 1x Sainsbury's Olive Oil, Extra Virgin 500ml
  • maldon Salt, to taste 1x Maldon Sea Salt Flakes 250g
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