This Coconut Basil White Bean Bisque is naturally vegan and gluten-free yet it is still packed with flavor! The white beans provide protein and substance while the combination of coconut milk, lemongrass and basil create a unique yet lovely flavor profile!
This is a very exciting week, to say the least. Our friends Beto, Jill, Paloma and Severin are coming for a visit and plan to stay for a couple of nights. The most exciting part for me is that they are bringing Paloma’s new kitty, Olive. Hehe, I’m over the moon!! I haven’t had a cat for over 10 years. So, it will be fun to have some kitty energy around the house! We are planning on going to the beach and have a bonfire on Thursday. On Friday we are planning on a visit to the Monterey Bay Aquarium. On Saturday, we’re all heading to our friends Erin and Leif’s house for their son Taj’s 5th birthday party. Sunday is Robby’s birthday, which we will be going out to dinner for Mexican food in downtown Santa Cruz.
Lately, I have had an unconscious desire to cut back on my dairy intake. By unconscious, I mean it’s happening naturally without thinking about it. There are certain dishes that just don’t taste good to me without cheese. So, I am on a mission to create recipes that are full of flavor yet are vegan and gluten-free. Coconut milk is a great substitute for dairy and this soup is a great example of one of those creations that lend itself to the substitution.
Coconut Basil White Bean Bisque with Lemongrass Oil
Ingredients
- 1 Tablespoon Coconut Oil
- 1/2 Onion - diced
- 2 Garlic Cloves - minced
- 1/3 Cup Dry White Wine - optional
- 1 Boullion Cube - vegetable - unsalted
- 1/2 Teaspoon Fresh Ginger - microplane
- 1 Stalks - Lemongrass - cut into three pieces
- 3 Cups White Beans - sorted - rinsed
- 8 Cups Filtered Water
- 2 Cans Coconut Milk - full fat
- 2 Tablespoons Lime
- 1 Tablespoon Soy Sauce
- 1 Tablespoon + 2 Teaspoons Sea Salt - or to taste
- 2 Cups Basil - roughly chopped
Lemongrass Oil
- 2 Stocks Lemongrass - thinly sliced
- 1/2 Cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Instructions
Lemongrass Oil
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Remove outer layer and pound the stalks to release the oils and then thinly slice.
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In a small pot, add the oil and heat on a medium heat until right before it comes to a boil.
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Remove from heat and add the lemongrass.
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Let sit for at least an hour.
Soup
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Measure beans and sort thru to make sure there are no rocks then rinse and drain.
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Add the onion and coconut oil to a 5-quart pot over medium-low heat.
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Cook for about 5 minutes then add the garlic and saute until the garlic starts to become golden.
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Add the wine and bouillon cubes, smash the bouillon and reduce the wine until syrupy.
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Add water, lemongrass and bring to a boil then turn to medium heat and cover.
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Cook for an hour to an hour in a half or until the beans are soft. (Make sure and keep an eye on them)
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When the beans are completely cooked, remove the lemongrass and add all the remaining ingredients.
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Puree in a food processor, blender or with an immersion blender until it is smooth.
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I used a food processor and then an immersion blender for an extra smooth consistency.
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Serve with a drizzle of thyme oil.
White Beans are a super source of dietary fiber, which is good for the prevention of constipation, also helps digestive disorders like irritable bowel syndrome and diverticulosis. They are great for heart health because of their significant amounts of folate (support of red blood cell formation, one cup of the cooked beans provides 63.7% of the recommended daily intake for folate) and magnesium (lowers blood pressure). They are good for helping insulin resistance, hypoglycemia or diabetes, and help you balance blood sugar levels while providing steady energy.
Fresh Basil has anti-aging, anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties. The herb contains exceptionally high levels of beta-carotene and vitamin A and is rich in zeaxanthin an anti-oxidant that helps protect age-related macular disease. Basil has a good amount of Iron and also helps to detoxify the liver. It contains phytochemicals that may lower cortisol, a hormone secreted when you’re stressed that causes weight gain, so add some fresh basil to your water or tea.
