Ingredients

The following ingredients have 8 Servings
  • 1 pound dry butter beans ((or 6 cups cooked or canned butter beans - you can sub cannellini or navy beans))
  • 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 large sweet onion, (peeled and chopped)
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 large carrots, peeled and sliced into rounds
  • 2 celery ribs, sliced
  • 14 ounces crushed tomatoes ((1 can - fire roasted is ok))
  • 3 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 6 tablespoons fresh chopped dill, divided
  • 1 bay leaf
  • Salt and black pepper

Instruction

  • Cover the dry beans with cold water and soak them overnight. Drain and rinse.
  • Alternatively, if you’re running short on time, you can quick soak the beans. To do this, in a medium pot bring 8 cups of water to a boil. Add dry lima beans and boil for 3 minutes.Remove pot from heat and allow the beans to soak in the hot water for 2 hours to soften.Drain and rinse until water runs clear. Remove any bean skins that have come loose and discard.
  • In a large pot, heat up ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil over medium high heat until hot (not smoking). Add chopped onion to the pot and sauté for about 10 minutes until softened. Add the minced garlic and sauté for 3-4 minutes more until fragrant.
  • Add carrot, celery, and soaked lima beans to the pot.Cover the ingredients with 8 cups of water (if using canned beans, add 6 cups of water) and bring to a slow boil for a few minutes. Skim any foam that rises to the top of the pot.
  • When foam dissipates, add the crushed tomatoes and tomato paste to the pot, along with ¼ cup of fresh chopped dill and bay leaf. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
  • Let the soup simmer for 75-90 minutes until beans are nice and tender. If using canned beans, you will only need to simmer the soup for 30 minutes or so. If the soup becomes too thick while it’s cooking, add a little more water. Taste and season again towards the end of cooking, if needed.
  • Ladle soup into bowls and serve garnished with the remaining fresh dill.