Speed up your meal prep: how to cook red bean soup express

Cooking red bean soup from scratch can be a time-consuming process, but it doesn’t have to be. With a few simple tips and tricks, you can whip up a delicious and hearty bowl of red bean soup in no time.

Soak Your Beans Overnight

One of the best ways to speed up the cooking process is to soak your red beans overnight. This will help them to soften and cook more quickly. Simply rinse the beans and place them in a large bowl or container. Cover them with cold water and let them soak for at least 8 hours, or up to overnight.

Use a Pressure Cooker

A pressure cooker is a great way to cook red beans quickly and efficiently. The pressure cooker traps steam, which increases the pressure inside the pot and raises the boiling point of the water. This allows the beans to cook more quickly.

Cook the Beans in a Slow Cooker

If you don’t have a pressure cooker, you can also cook red beans in a slow cooker. This method is not as fast as using a pressure cooker, but it is still a relatively quick and easy way to cook beans. Simply rinse the beans and place them in the slow cooker. Add water, broth, or tomato sauce, and cook on low for 6-8 hours, or on high for 3-4 hours.

Use Canned Beans

If you’re really short on time, you can use canned beans. Canned beans are already cooked, so you can simply rinse them and add them to your soup. This will save you a significant amount of time.

Add Flavorings

Once your beans are cooked, you can add any flavorings you like. Some common flavorings for red bean soup include:

• Onion
• Garlic
• Celery
• Carrots
• Bacon
• Sausage
• Ham
• Spices (such as cumin, chili powder, or paprika)

Simmer the Soup

Once you’ve added your flavorings, bring the soup to a simmer and let it cook for at least 30 minutes. This will allow the flavors to meld and the soup to thicken.

Serve and Enjoy

Once the soup has simmered, it’s ready to serve. You can enjoy it on its own or with a side of bread, rice, or cornbread.

How to Cook Red Bean Soup in 30 Minutes or Less

If you’re really in a hurry, you can cook red bean soup in 30 minutes or less. Here’s how:

1. Use canned beans.
2. Cook the soup in a pressure cooker.
3. Add minimal flavorings.
4. Simmer the soup for just 15 minutes.

How to Make Red Bean Soup Without Soaking

If you don’t have time to soak your beans overnight, you can still make red bean soup without soaking them. However, it will take longer to cook.

1. Rinse the beans and pick out any stones or debris.
2. Place the beans in a large pot and add water.
3. Bring the water to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer for 2-3 hours, or until the beans are tender.

How to Thicken Red Bean Soup

If your red bean soup is too thin, you can thicken it by adding a cornstarch slurry. To make a cornstarch slurry, mix 1 tablespoon of cornstarch with 1 tablespoon of cold water. Stir until the cornstarch is dissolved. Add the cornstarch slurry to the soup and bring to a simmer. Cook for 1-2 minutes, or until the soup has thickened.

How to Freeze Red Bean Soup

Red bean soup can be frozen for up to 3 months. To freeze the soup, let it cool completely. Then, transfer the soup to freezer-safe containers. Leave about 1 inch of headspace at the top of each container to allow for expansion.

Top Questions Asked

• Can I use any type of beans for red bean soup?

You can use any type of beans for red bean soup, but the most common type is the kidney bean. Other types of beans that can be used include:

• Black beans
• Pinto beans
• Great northern beans
• Navy beans

• What is a good substitute for bacon in red bean soup?

If you don’t have bacon, you can substitute any other type of smoked meat, such as sausage, ham, or turkey bacon. You can also use a vegetarian substitute, such as tempeh or tofu.

• Can I add vegetables to red bean soup?

Yes, you can add any vegetables you like to red bean soup. Some common vegetables that are added to red bean soup include:

• Onion
• Garlic
• Celery
• Carrots
• Potatoes
• Tomatoes
• Green beans
• Corn
• Zucchini

• How can I make red bean soup more spicy?

To make red bean soup more spicy, you can add any type of chili pepper, such as:

• Cayenne pepper
• Jalapeño pepper
• Serrano pepper
• Habanero pepper

You can also add spices such as cumin, chili powder, or paprika to give the soup a more spicy flavor.

• How can I make red bean soup more creamy?

To make red bean soup more creamy, you can add any type of dairy product, such as:

• Milk
• Cream
• Sour cream
• Yogurt

You can also add a cornstarch slurry to the soup to thicken it and make it more creamy.