Chock-full of yummy ingredients (like cannellini beans, kale, garlic and cream), this white bean and kale soup recipe is easy to prepare, hearty and totally delicious! Topped with homemade crispy chickpeas, there are so many scrumptious flavours and textures in this easy bean veggie soup.
Regardless of the time of year, whether it’s winter, spring, summer or fall, I always love (and appreciate) recipes that can be made fast, taste delicious and are relatively easy on the grocery budget.
That’s why this white bean and kale soup with crispy chickpeas fits the bill perfectly. The soup itself can be made quickly, which often prevents me from buying store-bought soup. Plus, let’s be honest here, anything homemade is so much better than store-bought. Am I right?
The ingredients in this soup are quite simple, nothing fancy, just the way I like it. Heck, you likely have the ingredients on hand right now, so what are ya waiting for?
By the way, did you know that cannellini beans are white kidney beans? So, if you’re in the grocery store (or raiding your pantry) looking for beans to make this soup, cannellini or white kidney beans are what you are looking for!
Making the Crispy Chickpeas
Crispy chickpeas. I could eat those for days. You too? Honestly, I’m lucky they even made it to the soup because I ate half of them before I started taking pictures.
So, to make them, after the chickpeas are rinsed, drained and patted dry, simply toss them with some olive and salt, spread out onto a sheet pan and roast until crispy, stirring them halfway through cooking. (Refer to the recipe card below for the full details on how to make them.)
I love topping this bean and veggie soup with crispy chickpeas. However, if you want to save time or not bother with them, feel free to leave them out.
Alternatively, instead of topping your soup with crispy chickpeas, try topping with crackers or homemade croutons.
Aside from topping the bean and kale soup with chickpeas, the chickpeas on their own are fabulous snack or can be used on salads for extra crunch.
Tip: It’s inevitable that when you top your soup with the chickpeas they will start to lose their crispness (just like crackers or croutons would). No biggie, but I would keep that in mind and not top the soup with the chickpeas until you are ready to devour.
Making the Soup
Full details are in the recipe card below, but here are the basics:
- Heat some olive oil in a pot, then cook the onion until softened.
- Stir in garlic and cook until fragrant.
- Add beans, Herbes de Provence, salt, black pepper and crushed red pepper flakes.
- Pour in broth, bring to a boil, the reduce the heat to a simmer and cook to warm through.
- Remove about 1 cup of soup and blend with an immersion blender until smooth. Pour back into the pot of soup.
- Add kale and cream to the soup. Bring to a simmer and cook until the kale is just wilted.
- Divide the soup into bowls, garnish with crispy chickpeas and devour!
No Kale? No Problem!
If you don’t have kale on hand (or prefer not to use), you can substitute with Swiss chard or baby spinach. Baby spinach is a lot more delicate than kale and Swiss chard, so it will cook/wilt a lot quicker.
What To Serve With It
This soup is quite satisfying all on its own. However, if you want to make yourself a more substantial meal, try serving the soup with a veggie sandwich, green salad or some crusty bread (garlic bread is delicious).
More Yummy Soup Recipes
If you make this white bean and kale soup, be sure to leave a comment below!
This white bean and kale soup recipe was originally published November 28, 2016 but has been updated.
White Bean and Kale Soup With Crispy Chickpeas
Ingredients
Crispy Chickpeas
- 1 (19-ounce) can chickpeas, rinsed and drained
- 1.5 tablespoon olive oil
- ยฝ teaspoon salt
White Bean and Kale Soup
- 1.5 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 yellow onion, peeled and diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 (19-ounce) can cannellini (white kidney) beans, rinsed and drained
- 1.5 teaspoons Herbes de Provence, or a combination of dried thyme, rosemary and tarragon
- ยฝ teaspoon salt, or to taste
- ยฝ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- ยผ to ยฝ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, depending on how spicy you like things
- 4 cups low sodium vegetable broth
- 3 ounces kale, leaves remove from stems and cut into bite-sized pieces (about 100 grams or 5 to 6 handfuls)
- ยฝ cup heavy cream (whipping cream)
Instructions
Crispy Chickpeas
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure your chickpeas are patted dry of excess moisture (this helps them to crisp up nicely). I like to place them in a clean tea towel to pat dry. You can discard any chickpea skins that come off. Place the chickpeas in a bowl and toss with olive oil and salt. Spread the chickpeas out onto a large sheet pan in a single layer and roast for 20 to 30 minutes, stirring them halfway through cooking. While the chickpeas are roasting, you can start to prepare the soup.Note: Ovens vary, so if the chickpeas haven't reached the level of crispness you want, you can continue to roast them until they do. Just keep in mind that they crisp up a little more as they cool.
White Bean and Kale Soup
- Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat.
- Add onion and cook for 3 to 5 minutes until softened, then stir in garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Add cannellini beans, Herbes de Provence, salt, black pepper and crushed red pepper flakes.
- Pour in vegetable broth. Increase the heat to high and bring to a boil. Then reduce the heat (to about medium-low) to maintain a simmer. Cook for 3 to 5 minutes to warm through.
- Remove about 1 cup of soup, place into a heat-safe container (something that holds 2 to 4 cups) and blend with an immersion blender until smooth. Pour back into the pot of soup. (This adds extra creaminess and body to the soup.)Note: If you don't have an immersion blender or prefer not to use, you can place the 1 cup of soup/beans in a heat-safe bowl and mash with a potato masher. Alternatively, you can blend the 1 cup of soup with a regular blender.
- Add kale and heavy cream to the soup. Bring to a simmer (don't boil) and cook for 3 to 5 minutes or until kale is wilted. Adjust seasoning, if necessary, by adding more salt to taste.
- To serve, divide the soup into bowls and garnish with crispy chickpeas. Enjoy!
A note on times provided: appliances vary, any prep and/or cook times provided are estimates only.
ยฉ Girl Heart Food Inc. Photographs and content are copyright protected.
Tried this recipe?
If you do make this recipe, thank you!! It would mean so much if you could leave a comment below. Love to know how you enjoyed it, and it helps other readers too!
Shashi at RunninSrilankan
Dawn, I love this idea of pureeing the beans! I’ve pureed cauliflower before to “creamify” and thicken up a soup – but never tried beans! Now I must try this soup, I’m not a huge fan of store bought soup (unless it’s used in a recipe) so easy *AND SPICY* soups like this are my jam! I just might have to use coconut milk because my stomach and cream don’t get along but am thinking that wouldn’t make a whole difference. Oooh and LOVE those crispy chickpeas added in!
Hoping your week is going well!
Girl Heart Food
Yay! Thanks so much, Shashi!! It certainly is a great way to add that rich flavour without all the calories. I’m sure coconut milk would be absolutely lovely in here too. The crispy chickpeas are pretty tasty…though, I almost ate them all before they made it to the soup, lol. Hope you’re having a great week too ๐
Sarah @ Champagne Tastes
This sounds perfect! I’ve been sick- this would be amazing right now. If I can just get the hubs to make it… lol
Girl Heart Food
Haha! Hope you feel better soon ๐
Annie Sageer
I’d be happy enough just eating the crispy chick peas…the soup is merely frosting on the cake! ๐ After all the turkey and taters – this is a welcomed meal! Hope your having a wonderful week my friend!! xoxo
Adina
I have a weakness for crispy chickpeas and adding them to the soup sounds great! I wish I could be so into exercising as you are, I hate it!!! Especially since I know that I really need it…
Tracy | Baking Mischief
Rowers are so fun! I used to use one in college that had a racing game built into it, so I’d row like crazy trying to be fast enough to beat the machine. ๐ It’s definitely a good alternative to working out outside during the winter!
This soup looks so good. I’d never considered adding crispy chickpeas to soup before, but that’s such a great idea! Pinning!
Girl Heart Food
Oh, that’s so neat!! Game + working out? Woo hoo! Can’t beat that ๐ Thanks Tracy for the sweet comment and Pin. Hope your week is going good ๐
annie@ciaochowbambina
If I could reach through the screen and pluck one of those crispy little chick peas off the board I would! Love that you topped this bowl of comfort with them! I hear you about the new equipment…we also got a rower! Great minds!! ๐ And we love it! Our holiday was wonderful! Finished yesterday when we dropped Chels off to the airport . ๐ But she’ll be back for Christmas!! Have a great week, my dear! xoxo
Girl Heart Food
Hehehe…I hear ya, Annie! I was munching away on those as I was taking pics. They’re addictive! Awesome! You have a rower too? I really enjoy it so far too and it’s so nice to mix things up from the treadmill. Christmas will be here before you know it and all you guys will be sitting down for games and good food again ๐ Have a great week too! XOXO
Gaila
Hey Dawn! I’ll you to have one big bowl of this soup today! I love soups, this sounds amazing! I love how you added the chickpeas on top! great addition! I hope you father don’t mess with the Christmas day meal again! hahahaha
Girl Heart Food
Thanks Gaila! Haha! I hear ya ๐ Have a wonderful week, my friend!
Mary Ann | The Beach House Kitchen
I so wish I had a bowl of this delicious and comforting soup today Dawn! It sounds so nice and healthy, something I desperately need after a weekend full of indulging! I LOVE the crispy chickpeas on top!! Hope you have a wonderful week!
Girl Heart Food
Thanks Mary Ann! Hope you have a great week ๐
Kate @ Framed Cooks
THANK YOU for giving me this great healthy supper in between all the feasting – looks delish, Dawn! ๐
Girl Heart Food
You’re very welcome, Kate! Hope you enjoy ๐
Sues
A rower sounds like the best idea everrr. I seriously need to invest in some home workout equipment, so that I’ll be able to work off all of my holiday indulging, instead of sitting lazily on my couch. This soup looks sooooo good… the spicier the better if you ask me!!
Girl Heart Food
I hear ya, girl! I love to eat good food, so I know I have to work out to balance out those calories, lol. Happy you like the soup! Happy Monday!
David @ Spiced
This sounds like my kind of soup, Dawn! Those crispy chickpeas in there are just pure genius. But I’m more hooked on the fact that this is super creamy and not loaded with heavy cream. (Don’t get me wrong…I have no problem with a nice heavy cream soup…but we’re trying to watch what we eat around here.) It’s getting super cold here, and I’m about ready to start churning out some soups…and I think this one needs to be on the list. Yum!! ๐
Girl Heart Food
Yay! That’s what I was going for…that creaminess, but not loaded with calories and fat. It’s especially good to watch the calorie intake now because in a few weeks there will be so much sweet treats and food going around. So happy you like the recipe and hopefully you will get a chance to try it out. Thanks David!
Kevin | Keviniscooking
Hi Dawn! This one sounds quite relish. I love the addition of the crispy chickpeasโฆ itโs the little things ya know? ๐ Funny when you mentioned that new piece of equipment I instantly thought of Frank Underwood rowing and swishing out his frustrations from the Netflix show House of Cards! LOVE that show and while I was up in Portland got hooked on Downton Abby, never saw that one either. Anyways, the top view photos of the soup are so good, makes me want a bowl now, forget my coffee.
Girl Heart Food
It definitely is the little things, Kevin! That’s so true! I love the rower, though I do get a little nauseous after using is for a bit….not quite used to the motion of it. Funny, isn’t it? I watched a little of Douwnton Abby and really enjoyed it. There’s too many shows and so little time. i love to save them for the weekend and catch up. Thanks for the kind words, my friend!
Rachelle @ Beer Girl Cooks
I view exercising as a necessary evil that I do not participate in nearly enough. Good for you to get a rower which reminds me of House of Cards. This soup is GORGEOUS, girlfriend! I absolutely love those colors. It just looks like Christmas to me!
Girl Heart Food
Good one, Rachelle!! Thank you very much!! Have a great week! XO
Cheyanne @ No Spoon Necessary
Omg, I am obsessed with working out in general, but around the holidays? Look out, this girl needs two-a-days! Too many damn cookies to work off! Lol. So cool you got a rowing machine!! Those are awesome. Speaking of awesome – this soup!!! Love the creamy white beans with kale!! And those crispy chickpeas? I’ll take ’em ALL!! Cheers, girlfriend! <3
Girl Heart Food
Hahaha! I totally hear ya! If I wanna eat so much, I better work out ๐ Thanks so much, my friend.XO
Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice
Dressing is a favorite of mine too, and just like you, I like it on the simple side with LOTS of flavor! Sounds like your mom is such a good cook! And that’s great that your dad tried to help, but I agree, don’t mess with Christmas dinner! ๐ And yay for a water rower! Sounds like that a great way to switch up your exercise routine a bit. Now onto this soup…YUM! I’ve never made a white bean soup before, but I’m loving the looks of it and how easy it is to prepare. I’m all about soup, especially in the winter, so I’ve got to add this to my menu. Pinned, of course! Hope your week is off to a great start!
Girl Heart Food
Yes! Don’t mess with Christmas dinner ๐ High five!! Thanks so much for the kind words and Pin, Gayle! Happy Monday to you!
Kathy @ Beyond the Chicken Coop
What a beautiful healthy soup! I love that you’ve added crunchy chick peas on top! Those are one of my favorites to eat! Good for you for getting a new piece of exercise equipment…this time of year it is so hard to stay active!
Girl Heart Food
Thanks so much, Kathy!! Happy Monday ๐