Runner Bean Soup
If you have a glut of Runner Beans – or even if you haven’t – this is a surprisingly easy and tasty soup to make.
Runner bean soup
Ingredients
About 500g runner beans, de- stringed if old, then cut into chunks
1 large onion, roughly chopped
1 tbsp butter/ oil
Garlic to taste, chopped. Leave it out if you want to.
1 or 2 potatoes ( leftovers are fine, boiled or mashed)
Vegetable stock, about 500 mls
Milk
Creme fraiche to serve
Chopped chives or mint tops
How to do it
Melt the butter/ oil in a large pan.
Soften the onion in the butter without browning.
Add the garlic and raw potato in thin slices ( so it cooks as quickly as everything else) and toss about with the softened onions. Sweat for a few minutes.
Add the chopped beans to the mixture and toss to coat with the butter/ oil too.
Beans roughly chopped
All the vegetables tossed in the butter and ready for the stock
Add vegetable stock and bring to the boil.
Simmer for about 10 mins or until all the vegetables are cooked.
If using leftover potato, mix it in now and heat through.
Using a stick blender, whizz until the mixture is blended. Add enough milk to make a soupy consistency to suit you.
Adjust the seasoning.
Bring back to the boil and serve with a dollop of creme fraiche and some chopped chives or mint tops.
Runner bean soup
Enjoy! Please click ‘like’ if you do!
Paul Rupa
December 8, 2023 at 5:48 pm
Tried the soup today (mid December) – made with runner beans, onion and the last of the potatoes I had stored (last August) – all from my allotment. Ended up adding another 250ml of stock to ensure the soup was just thin enough to be sieved – which I think is worth doing. The result was surprisingly flavourful – added some dry bits of toasted bread, brushed with a clove of garlic and chopped into croutons.
mybeautfulthings
December 8, 2023 at 10:06 pm
That sounds delicious! Very glad it worked out for you with your adaptations. We use our allotment produce too – we are on to leek and potato right now but having to buy potatoes to go with our own leeks, onions and garlic. Thank you for taking the time to report in how your soup worked for you. 🙂
The Frying Scotsman
August 31, 2021 at 2:57 pm
Glut of runner beans today at our allotment in Edinburgh Scotland. Mmmmm! What can I make?so I looked up this recipe and with a few adjustments for our slightly spicier taste buds , more garlic , white pepper and half a teaspoon of madras curry powder just to give it a wee kick, turned out pretty good , when serving I just need to add some creme fresh or some Greek yogurt
mybeautfulthings
August 31, 2021 at 4:42 pm
Delighted to hear that! We add more garlic and black pepper most times when I make it, not tried the smidge of curry powder, yet. Our glut has just arrived so we’ll be making soup too. Thank you for taking time to comment, much appreciated. 🙂
Deb
October 4, 2019 at 5:08 pm
Thank you lovely recipe. Very tired anemic. I threw out beans after simmer steep and used kallo organic onion stock and tiny herb bag to put chives in, garlic paste and loads butter becoz I cough with frosty weather! I used McDougall’s thcknr if no spuds and I added lime juice cordial and topped it with sour cream. Really good vitamin soup!
mybeautfulthings
October 4, 2019 at 5:16 pm
Sounds like a delicious and nutritious adaptation of the original recipe. 🙂
Deb
October 4, 2019 at 4:35 pm
Very tired anemic. I used kallo organic onion stock, McDougall’s thickener, loads butter, I threw out beans after simmer and steep and I added sour cream and lime juice cordial little and I put chives and black pepper in a tiny bag for steeping so I went cough coz of frosty weather. Thank you for lovely recipe!
Susan McConnell
September 28, 2019 at 11:02 am
This recipe looks fab I have lots of beans at the moment. The question is can this soup be frozen?
mybeautfulthings
September 28, 2019 at 5:14 pm
Yes it can. I freeze it in one pint milk bottles which just serves the two of us. 🙂
Nicola
September 19, 2022 at 9:28 am
yes – I do … after the whizzing phase.
Mo
August 16, 2019 at 12:37 pm
I had never heard of runner bean soup but thought to search the internet in case anyone else had a recipe, although I would have cobbled something together myself like I did the spinch soup last week which was delicious. Once again we have a glut of runner beans but I will not freeze them like last year. I could not eat them they all smelt of fish. So this year it is eat them freshly cooked with every meal for a month and make soup of the rest. So it is soup making day today and I will let you know what I think later. Thank you for the beautifully photographs and recipe.
mybeautfulthings
August 16, 2019 at 2:26 pm
That’s exactly what we are doing this year too. We were very disappointed with the frozen beans but the soup was a great success and I made pints! Sometimes I use butter beans instead of the potato for the thickener and that works well too. Thank you for taking the time to comment. I hope you love the soup as we do! 🙂
Karla Judd
August 14, 2019 at 5:41 pm
Thanks ..
After pealing a sweet potatoe, I then pealed the potatoe into my celery onion & garlic as with two carrots.
Sprinkle of oregano
Beans & stock
Good Healthy Soup
mybeautfulthings
August 19, 2019 at 1:31 pm
They sound like good additions. I hope you enjoyed the resulting soup. 🙂
dcwood101252
June 4, 2019 at 3:17 pm
Lovely soup – but if you’ve used some slightly ‘older’ beans as I did – best to strain the soup after blending to get rid of any ‘hairy’ strings!
mybeautfulthings
June 4, 2019 at 3:26 pm
You are absolutely right! Perhaps I should add a PS to the recipe. 🙂
Caz
September 3, 2019 at 7:25 pm
Thank’s so much for the straining tip! I just made this for the first time and it’s delicious, but could so easily have been spoiled by those stringy bits!
I used up some turkey stock that was lurking in the back of the freezer from Christmas!
Marj
September 29, 2019 at 11:15 am
I destringing runner beans (before cutting up) with a vegetable peeler, this little gadget is also useful for destringing celery.
mybeautfulthings
September 29, 2019 at 12:57 pm
Good tip for older beans – thank you. 🙂
Derek Wood
June 4, 2019 at 3:17 pm
Lovely soup – but if you’ve used some slightly ‘older’ beans as I did – best to strain the soup after blending to get rid of any ‘hairy’ strings!
Arkenaten
October 5, 2017 at 8:56 am
Our beans are just beginning to run up the bamboo.I love pretty much most soups so I’ll give your most excellent sounding recipe a go when they are ready!
mybeautfulthings
October 5, 2017 at 1:13 pm
I hope you enjoy it as much as other people who have commented – some good ideas in the comments. 🙂
Arkenaten
October 5, 2017 at 1:19 pm
When the beans grow I’ll let you know!
Arkenaten
October 5, 2017 at 1:20 pm
Oh, did you see the stone cats?
mybeautfulthings
October 5, 2017 at 1:58 pm
Just been there. Loved them. 🙂
Karl Harding
September 20, 2017 at 9:53 pm
A few days ago an elderly neighbour gave me a load of runner beans from his garden. I used this recipe (extra garlic because I love it) and it was lovely. I made too much so gave half of it to the neighbour who gave me the beans. We haven’t talked before but we shared a bottle of wine and talked. His wife and he loved the soup as well. Thanks for the recipe. 😊
mybeautfulthings
September 21, 2017 at 7:04 am
I am delighted to hear this! May your neighbour’s beans continue to flourish and your friendship develop. Very best wishes to you all. 🙂
saymber
August 1, 2017 at 5:55 pm
Passed this one on to my Facebook folks – especially my Mom who grows her own green beans and is always looking to try new soup recipes!
mybeautfulthings
August 1, 2017 at 7:41 pm
Thank you! Much appreciated and I hope they enjoy it as much as we do. 🙂
Bill Moore
September 2, 2016 at 6:07 am
I have just finished making my third batch of runner bean soup, my first attempt was a bit on the bland side as I didn’t put enough garlic in for my taste. I also found that if you are using a soup maker, don’t put the raw sliced potato in the bottom of the pot next the heating element, as some of the slices will get burnt and stuck to the bottom of the pot. For the next two batches I followed my Wife’s suggestion, used spring inions and a lot more garlic which gave it a bit more oomph. I find with a soup maker you don’t need to worry about blending anything, the machine does it for you, it take longer to prepare the vegetables than to cook them. In just over twenty minutes the hot soup is ready to poured into the bowls. With this new found use for runner beans, I’m afraid that there will be less of them being handed over the garden fence to my neighbours in future.
mybeautfulthings
September 2, 2016 at 6:31 am
Thank you for the update. I’m both delighted that you have adapted the soup to your taste and sorry for your neighbours! Your soup maker sounds interesting. I shall have to investigate as I make soup out of anything and everything and anything to make it easier would be welcome, not that it is a difficult process at all. How easy is it to clean? A pan is very easy! 🙂
Bill Moore
September 2, 2016 at 8:19 am
On seeing you interest about soup makers, I decided to do a little surfing on the internet. Being male I first had to go in the kitchen to see what brand it is, and found it to be a Morphy Richards. I found that Amazon sell them for £47, but you can get one with damaged packaging for as low as £23. Go to M.R. website and you will see the machine being demonstrated. Hope this helps Bill.
mybeautfulthings
September 2, 2016 at 8:29 am
Thank you very much. We are just on our way to The Grand Canyon so I will search on our return from our hols! 🙂
Bill Moore
August 25, 2016 at 4:50 pm
Just discovered your website, At the moment on the isle of Wight, in spite of giving away beans to our neighbours, and sending some to a mate of mine to the frozen north in Yorkshire, my runners bean are still producing more than all of us can eat. We tried freezing some with mixed success, and it was more as a joke to my Wife when I said, “I wonder if you can make soup out of them”
I like your recipe, it appears to be nice and simple, without some obscure ingredients like powdered unicorn horn ( I’m joking) but we have all seen the flowery recipes that are put in the colour supplements. My only question is while we have a soup maker, do I need to get a stick blender?
mybeautfulthings
August 25, 2016 at 7:32 pm
I like the stick blender but before I had one I used to put soup into the blender that fits atop my Kenwood mixer. The stick blender is easier because you can blend in the pan (less washing up) and just as efficient. You can get one quite cheaply in supermarkets – it doesn’t have to be fancy! I wish you could send me some beans (only joking!) as our harvest has practically failed this year! Fortunately our neighbour who has an allotment is keeping us supplied.
I hope you enjoy the soup. It freezes well too. I use one pint milk cartons as that just holds two helpings. 🙂
Rhona Barton
September 1, 2016 at 4:54 pm
I was given runner bean beans and planted them. Loads of lovely flowers so brilliant for bees. Loads of beans, unfortunately I hate runner beans! So am going to make your soup! I have lads of beans to plant next spring!
mybeautfulthings
September 2, 2016 at 6:36 am
I’m glad that you are going to try the soup. It is delicious! You may find some of the hints in the other comments useful. I have never kept bean seeds for next year- rather silly not to I think. 🙂
French Runner
July 19, 2016 at 5:32 pm
Thanks for these Tips ,, and its very tasty
mybeautfulthings
July 19, 2016 at 9:23 pm
Delighted that you like it. 🙂
Marie Taylor
October 5, 2015 at 9:03 am
Hi very glad i found your runner bean soup recipe it is delicious, I made it in a soup maker then added the milk after it had finished so it would not curdle with the heat. Just one question do you mean 500mls of stock & another 500mls of milk ??? mine was not as green as yours either.
mybeautfulthings
October 5, 2015 at 9:26 am
Hello, so glad it worked out for you. I use 500mls stock and then only add milk to make it the consistency that I want. That changes depending on the amount of potato I have added which can be variable, especially if I am using up some boiled spuds or some mash! Boiling the beans for as short a time as possible keeps them greener, just get them soft enough to whizz up. Hope that helps.
Thank you for taking the time to leave a comment – much appreciated. 🙂
Ivor Parslow
September 21, 2015 at 6:15 pm
Just back from holiday and quite a few beens had grown to might be stringy stage so made your soup, it was great although didn’t look quite so green as yours but the taste was there. \thank you.
mybeautfulthings
September 21, 2015 at 6:19 pm
Very glad you liked your soup. It freezes well too. I put mine in one pint plastic milk containers, holds two servings. Thank you for taking the time to comment. 🙂
Liz
September 14, 2015 at 9:31 am
Going to try this and perhaps add some mint leaves before whizzing – I have an easy bean salad with mint, olive oil, lemon & feta cheese
mybeautfulthings
September 14, 2015 at 10:00 am
Good idea with the mint leaves. funnily enough we tried that this year with one batch and it was lovely. I like the sound of your salad too. I love Feta and will try it. Thank you for taking the time to comment – much appreciated. 🙂
Linda Baddeley
August 10, 2017 at 7:28 pm
If you don’t have fresh mint, use a spoon or two of’mint sauce’ from a jar. Adjust amount to your taste.
Jack Hay
August 14, 2015 at 6:21 am
At last, I can use all my runner beans up. They are prolific this year! Sounds delicious. Have you tried with sweet potato?
mybeautfulthings
August 14, 2015 at 7:25 am
I haven’t but will try it. We don’t grow sweet potatoes so no need to use up the glut! Thank you for calling in and taking the time to comment – much appreciated. Hope the soup goes well. 🙂
Jack Hay
August 14, 2015 at 1:11 pm
Just to confirm. Is the recipe for two? Will make tomorrow and make enough for extras at a later date. Will let you know the result.
mybeautfulthings
August 14, 2015 at 2:19 pm
I do serve for two but there is usually enough to freeze some too. I freeze a pint at a time in small plastic milk ‘bottles’ as they stack well in the freezer. 🙂
Jack Hay
August 14, 2015 at 2:27 pm
What a great idea. I use 5 ladles per freezer bag (for two), which is about a pint! I will now save my milk bottles. I have a great chorizo soup recipe if you are interested. The best ever…
mybeautfulthings
August 14, 2015 at 3:15 pm
Always happy to try new recipes! Thank you! 🙂
Gale Waller
August 29, 2015 at 9:18 am
I use old margarine tubs for freezing individual portions. They stack neatly in one draw of my freezer.
mybeautfulthings
August 29, 2015 at 11:58 am
Good idea! 🙂
JJ
September 25, 2014 at 6:43 pm
Round the table here, we agree that this is the important last stage – thin to desired consistency, then sieve through for a perfectly smooth result.
mybeautfulthings
September 25, 2014 at 7:02 pm
Indeed! if your beans are old then that is a very important stage. Younger beans don’t need sieving, I find.
Thank you so much for your feedback. 🙂
JJ
September 25, 2014 at 12:46 pm
Just cooked this and it tastes very good indeed. I swirled a little cream in rather than creme fraiche to give it a little more finish.
Next time, I might reduce the potato a little to give the beans a chance to come through.
My website is about space and futures, and I reckon this could be something to cook up when we grow things under domes on the Moon or Mars!
mybeautfulthings
September 25, 2014 at 4:42 pm
Glad you liked it. I have also reduced the potato a little though it needs some of course to get that soupiness! here’s to gluts of Runner Beans on the Moon or Mars! 🙂
Kirsty Arthur
September 12, 2014 at 11:33 am
Just made this and WOW !! It is so tasty – great recipe 🙂
mybeautfulthings
September 12, 2014 at 5:27 pm
Very glad you find it as tasty as we do! 🙂
neil garland
September 11, 2014 at 11:20 am
very very tasty
mybeautfulthings
September 11, 2014 at 2:13 pm
Very glad you enjoyed it! 🙂
Vic
August 28, 2014 at 5:47 pm
Sounds really tasty….can’t wait to make it and enjoy.
mybeautfulthings
August 28, 2014 at 6:03 pm
Pleased you like the sound of it – hope you enjoy it as much as we do. 🙂