Chickpea and Cauliflower Coconut Soup

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What is it like? 

- Rich

- Smokey

- Coconut-y

gluten free dairy free Chickpea and Cauliflower Coconut Soup recipe

Recipe

1 1/4 cups chickpeas (soaked overnight) or 2 14-oz cans chickpeas
4 oz smoked lean bacon* or smoked ham OR see note for vegan**
2 14-oz cans coconut milk
12 oz fresh green beans, chopped
1 head cauliflower, chopped
water, enough to cover all of the ingredients
2 tsp apple cider vinegar
1 tsp thyme
1/3 cup copped parsley
1/8 tsp each: cumin and coriander
1 tsp paprika, or to taste
2 tbsp soy sauce, or to taste

Directions: 

  1. Gather all of your ingredients. If you are using soaked chickpeas, put them in a sauce pan, cover them with water and bring to a boil. Then immediately simmer on low for about 15 minutes with the lid on.

  2. Meanwhile, heat a large pan over medium heat. Add the bacon and allow it to brown. If the bacon is truly lean, you may need to add a teaspoon of olive oil (or your preferred oil). Flip the bacon and brown the second side, then remove it from the pan and allow it to cool.

  3. While the bacon browns, slice the cauliflower and green beans into bite sized pieces.

  4. After removing the bacon, put all of the other ingredients into the pan, including enough water to cover them and bring the soup to a boil, then immediately turn the burner down to low and allow the soup to simmer.

  5. Slice the bacon (or cut with scissors) and add it to the pot. Simmer until all of the ingredients are tender.

  6. Adjust flavor and serve. (See Note)



NOTES:
This soup only gets better with time. The first night it will be very good, but after resting for two days in the fridge, the flavors meld together and it is a match made in heaven.

* Lean bacon is an excellent source of flavor for soups and it is what people have been using for centuries. If you find a local farm that sells pork, the bacon is likely delicious lean bacon which is more common in Europe than in the U.S. You can use regular lean bacon if your source does not have the smoked option. I usually buy the ends, which are cheaper. 

** For vegan, substitute smoke flavor to taste, and 1/4 cup nutritional yeast.