vegetarian five bean soup mix
I have a treat for you guys this week! Craig and I have worked really hard over the past few days to come up with 10 handmade holiday gift ideas to post here on Wholefully all this week. We are huge fans of giving handmade gifts and are really excited about sharing some of our best gift projects for this holiday season! Come back here all week-long to see what goodies we have in store.
But over here on Wholefully, I'm doing what I do best-food, of course! A hearty, delicious, healthy soup-in-a-jar to be more specific.
These soup-in-a-jar kits not only look absolutely beautiful (pretty beans!) but they are also super healthy, vegetarian and totally delicious. With a little bit of pretty fabric on top, a nice ribbon and a label (which you can download for free at the end of this post)-they package up to be an absolutely adorable holiday gift that I'm sure a lot of folks on your list would be super happy to receive.
There are a lot of things I love about soup mixes like these, but I think my favorite is how quickly they come together and how economical they are. For the cost of five bags of beans and some spices (which you probably already have on hand) you get four jars that I think are really touching, personal gifts.
And being a fan of the healthy lifestyle, this whole food, fiber-packed, vegetarian gift is a nice change of pace from the buckets of candies and chocolates we all get at the holidays.
The key to making these kits more than just beans layered in the jar is an all-in-one spice packet layered at the tippy-top of the jar. Filled with great flavors, the spice packet is added to the soup as it simmers away on the stove, imparting delicious, robust flavor to every single little bean friend in that jar. All you need to make the soup is the jar of mix, a can of diced tomatoes, and some water.
The simplicity of the ingredients means that this guy stores well and is a great option for people who are interested in preserving food. Even if you don't make these as gifts, they are awesome lined up on a pantry shelf. If we happen to get one of the diabolical ice storms that Southern Indiana is known for and power goes out for a week, you better bet I'll be whipping up a batch of this soup on the gas stove.
Below are my instructions for the base mix for the soup, but feel free to mix it up and play with it however you'd like-it's totally customizable! Change out the beans, add in new spices or even toss in some other dehydrated veggies (zucchini and peppers would be yum). Have fun!
📖 Recipe
Vegetarian Five Bean Soup Mix
Equipment
- 4 clear quart Mason jars plus lids and rings
- Parchment paper
- Tape or stickers
- Fabric and ribbon to cover top
Ingredients
- 1 pound pinto beans
- 1 pound split green peas or green lentils
- 1 pound great northern beans
- 1 pound black beans
- 1 pound kidney beans
- 1 tablespoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 1 tablespoon dry mustard
- 2 tablespoons dehydrated onions found in the spice aisle
- 2 tablespoons sea salt
- 2 tablespoons garlic powder
- 2 tablespoons dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
- 8 bay leaves
- 4 vegetable bouillon cubes
Instructions
- In each of the four Mason jars, layer ⅔ cup of pinto beans—shaking the jar gently to level the beans. Then repeat with ⅔ cup of green peas and so on, ending with the kidney beans. Set jars aside.
- In a small bowl, combine all remaining spices except bay leaves and bouillon cubes.
- On a 10" x 10" piece of parchment paper, spoon 3 tablespoons of the spice mixture in the middle. Place two bay leaves and one bouillon cube on top. Fold parchment around spices to make a small spice packet. Seal with tape or stickers. Repeat three more times to create four total packets. Squish the packets into the top space of each of the four bean jars. You can also package the spices into plastic zip-top baggies if you prefer.
- Place lids on jars, cover in fabric and ribbon and label as desired.
Nutrition
To print them, just pick up some full-sheet sticker paper from any office supply store, print and then cut out with a pair of sharp scissors. Tip for cutting round edges with scissors: keep the scissors steady, but move the paper.
What's your favorite food gift to give during the holidays?
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I'll email this recipe to you, so you can come back to it later!
Thanks but NOW I do feel stupid. Laughing at myself is a perfect way to end my day. Sleep really well after a good hearty laugh. I thought it was some unusual spice or herb.
Loved the pictures and particularly the labels. I can never make labels like those!
Also, I can't identify the charcoal colored circles in that picture of spices. Can you tell me what they are. Hope it is something odd so I won't feel dumb.
They're circle sticky labels to keep the spice packets closed. I got them from here: http://www.paper-source.com/cgi-bin/paper/color/2-1-2-inch-Round-Labels/3907.040/841.html
What a great recipe, Cassie.Thanks again for your permission to use your beautiful photo and link in my Homemade Gifts-in-a-Jar guest post over at Keeper of the Home! Hope it brings some new friends your way! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you! 🙂 Kelly
Thanks SO much for this! I am giving them to everybody. I made up a batch to try out, and it is far and away the best bean soup I have ever had.
If I wanted to use less beans so I could make smaller jars, should I change the amount for tomatoes or spices?
Yes, if you want to use pint jars, just half the spices and tomatoes.
Cassie,
Any directions for making the soup...
How much water for soaking?
How long of a pre-soak?
How much water for cooking?
How large a can of tomatoes?
Thanks,
Mary
Hi Mary, the directions are located on the label file. Thanks!
Do you think you could make it in a slow cooker? I'm thinking that the people I'd want to give this to would not have time to do the soaking, etc. If they could throw it all in slow cooker in the morning it would be better for them. 🙂
Thanks!
I don't see why not. I've never done it, but it should work!
I have made it in crock pot. Never soak beans, because my grandmother never soaked them. Turn out just perfect.
Regarding the slow cooker, would you just say put all ingredients in at once and cook on low for 6 - 8 hours or until beans are tender?
Yup, that would work! Although, I would caution against using the kidney beans if you plan to use the slow cooker: http://www.motherearthnews.com/real-food/be-careful-with-red-kidney-beans-in-the-slow-cooker.aspx
I am so excited to make these soup jars with my little girls. They will LOVE to see all the colors and textures. I also think the labels are FAnTasTic! Loved reading your post.
Great idea! How long would the shelf life be on this beauty?
I'd say as long as you'd expect dried beans to last. 12-24 months, maybe?
Are the bay leaves fresh? Will they last that long?
Oops, nevermind! I can see them in the spices picture!
I am working on putting mine together but the beans didn't fill the jar up. Did yours fill almost to the top? Would it be alright to add another layer?
Mine did fill up to the top. And yes, you'll be fine adding in more beans! 🙂
Yea mine only filled 3/4 of the way! I think I will do a layer of lentils and a layer of rice... or beans, can't decide.
I think this is a very good gift for my vegetarian daughter and her family! Maybe my next door neighbor will get a jar, too!
Looks great! I'm wondering - how many servings in a jar? Thanks!
Hmmm, I'd say maybe 6-8 depending on how big eaters you have on hand! 🙂
Great idea!! Thanks so much for sharing--
Hi hun. Just wanted to let you know that I featured this on my blog today. I would love it if you could go and check it out 🙂
http://mammymade.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/mint-stuff-ive-seen-30.html
- Adele @ Mammy Made
This worked out so great for me. We needed a gift for a neighbor who just had a heart bypass surgery a month ago, and is diabetic. What to give him? This was perfect. I made up 3 jars and gave him a great soup mug. I loved how you had all I needed in one place: Lists, labels and How-to, plus a photo! Thanks so much!!!
omg this is such a cute idea! I love making homemade gifts. I am considering doing almond butter too, but I know my busy family members will appreciate this one so much more 🙂 thanks!
This has come at the perfect time! I was trying to think of an inexpensive gift to give the ladies I work with at my new job and this is exactly the type of thing I was looking for. Thank you!!!
I am loving the handmade holiday ideas. The soup mix is beautiful (and functional), and the labels are a nice touch. Thank you for this!
Perfect gift for office folks and extended family. Thank you!
Thanks you so much for this Cassie! I've done most of my shopping, but just need a couple of extra things to add to some gifts, and this will be perfect! I think I will double the recipe so I can have a couple for myself!
This is so cool! I love homemade gifts like this. I've done stuff like this for my co-workers every year (along with designing/printing out labels and such). And i LOVE that you included the label as a download on here!
I just went and checked out the coasters too (great site over there, btw) and I LOVE THEM. I have to show these to Greg! We need to make them!! 🙂
In one of the comments, coasters were mentioned but I can't find that site or instructions. Please direct me.
Thanks