It is not yet soup weather here in Seattle, but then again I am not really one of those by-the-season eaters anyway. I can have a nice hearty bowl of soup even when it is 100F outside, provided there is air conditioning inside. This soup was invented out of necessity last week as a quick fix lunch by throwing a bunch of ingredients together from the pantry and the fridge, aren’t all good dishes invented that way? I didn’t have any chicken or vegetable stock in hand, so I used some light coconut milk for the soup base. I think it was the most brilliant idea I’ve had in a while, the coconut milk added a mild sweet flavor to the soup and at the same time it was difficult to tell that the soup had any coconut milk at all! Okay, that statement is confusing! Well, it is kind of hard to explain, but trust me it was one good soup.

Spinach, Fennel and White Bean Soup

Ingredients

Method 

Cut the leaves and stalks off from the fennel bulb, cut off the base and remove the tough outer layer . Cut the bulb in half, wash well to remove any dirt. Slice the bulb length wise to form thin strips and dice these.

Heat the oil in a large sauce pan and saute the onions, garlic and ginger till the onions are soft. Season with salt and pepper. Add the green chilli paste and diced fennel pieces and saute for 2 minutes. Add the beans and coconut milk and 1/2 cup warm water and bring to a gentle boil. Add the baby spinach, close the sauce pan with a lid and simmer for about 10-15 minutes. If the liquid is too thin, remove the lid and increase the heat to medium and let some of the liquid evaporate till the liquid is slightly thick.

This is a South Beach Diet Phase 1 Friendly soup as coconut milk is allowed in moderation.

SBD Update

If you remember my previous three posts, I was on South Beach Diet Phase 1 to reset my system. Even though phase 1 is meant to be 14 days, I had to stop in 11 days as we went out of town for the long weekend. It is no fun to be on a diet on vacation. I lost 3.8lbs total in phase 1 and after the trip I am on a very lenient phase 2. So no more day-by-day updates, but I will try and post more SBD friendly recipes.

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Comments

16 Responses to “Spinach, Fennel and White Bean Soup in Light Coconut Milk”

  1. Sra says:
    September 10, 2009 at 10:38 pm

    I get it, about the coconut milk being there and not there! Nice bowl!

    Reply
  2. nags says:
    September 11, 2009 at 12:28 am

    omg! the bowl!!! isn’t it from Ikea? :D

    Reply
  3. Hb says:
    September 11, 2009 at 12:55 am

    That contrast of bowl and the soup and everything about the picture is just awesome!

    Reply
  4. notyet100 says:
    September 11, 2009 at 1:50 am

    soup looks yummy,..

    Reply
  5. Happy Cook says:
    September 11, 2009 at 3:26 am

    Here at home we have a smal cup of soup before lunch everyday.
    This looks really yumm, live the addition of coconut mmilk.

    Reply
  6. Soma says:
    September 11, 2009 at 4:21 am

    This is fantastic. I love the coconut milk. I have done one before with coconut milk, but with roasted veggies. The fennel is really lovely & the green chillies.

    I LOVE that bowl.. looks very IKEA kind.

    Reply
  7. Lubna Karim says:
    September 11, 2009 at 4:36 am

    Wow…love that combo….looks yum..healthy too…

    Reply
  8. Mamatha says:
    September 11, 2009 at 4:44 am

    I *heart* coconut milk-based soups. But I usually make them Thai-style: coconut milk + Curry Paste + fish sauce + random veggies + meat/fish. Seeing your recipe makes me think CM can be a good substitute for cream in cream-based soups as well.

    Reply
    • Mamatha says:
      September 11, 2009 at 4:47 am

      Also wanted to add that I love the picture. Something about the bowl and the colors in general make it look very retro.

      Reply
  9. Siri says:
    September 11, 2009 at 4:57 am

    I soup looks very comforting Sig and it is already soup-weather in DC..it is quite rainy & chilly :neutral: . Have to also add – Nice bowl! there is something warm about that light greenish color I guess!

    Siri :smile:

    Reply
  10. elra says:
    September 11, 2009 at 7:14 am

    Love this 2 ingredients, never cooked them though. I always have them for salad. This sounds pretty tempting Sig!

    Reply
  11. shilpa says:
    September 11, 2009 at 8:21 am

    Wish I could have that bowl now. I am hungry and I love soups :)

    Reply
  12. sunita says:
    September 11, 2009 at 2:25 pm

    It’s soup weather here, though I too do ot mind a god bowl of soup anytime. And yours sure looks pretty :-)

    Reply
  13. sunita says:
    September 11, 2009 at 2:26 pm

    Ouch!!! “not”; “good” :-( am definitely sleepy now…nearly midnight here;-)

    Reply
  14. Karine says:
    September 13, 2009 at 1:13 am

    Great combination of flavors in this soup! Thanks for sharing :)

    Reply

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