White Bean& Dumpling Soup (vegan)

ingredients

For the Soup:

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 large onion, diced
• 2 carrots, sliced
• 2 celery stalks, sliced
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1 bay leaf
• 4 cups vegetable broth
• 2 cans (15 ounces each) white beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 can (14.5 ounces) diced tomatoes
• 1 cup kale or spinach, chopped
• Salt and pepper to taste

For the Dumplings:

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon dried parsley
• 1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk (or any plant-based milk)
• 2 tablespoons olive oil

Instructions

Making the Soup:

1. Sauté the Vegetables: In a large pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion, carrots, and celery. Cook until the vegetables start to soften, about 5-7 minutes.
2. Add Garlic and Spices: Stir in the garlic, thyme, rosemary, and smoked paprika. Cook for another minute until fragrant.
3. Add Broth and Beans: Pour in the vegetable broth, diced tomatoes, white beans, and bay leaf. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and let it simmer for 20 minutes.
4. Add Greens: Stir in the chopped kale or spinach and cook until wilted, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Making the Dumplings:

1. Prepare Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, and dried parsley.
2. Add Wet Ingredients: Pour in the almond milk and olive oil. Stir until just combined. Do not overmix; the dough should be slightly sticky.

Cooking the Dumplings:

1. Drop Dumplings: Using a tablespoon or cookie scoop, drop spoonfuls of the dumpling dough into the simmering soup. Make sure to space them out so they don’t stick together.
2. Cook the Dumplings: Cover the pot with a lid and let the dumplings cook for about 15 minutes. Do not lift the lid during this time, as the steam is necessary for cooking the dumplings thoroughly.

Serve:

• Ladle the soup into bowls, making sure each serving gets some dumplings.
• Optionally, garnish with fresh parsley or a sprinkle of nutritional yeast for added flavor.