A great soup chock full of beans, tomatoes and vegetables.
Directions
- Cook the orzo and set aside.
- Sauté the onion, carrots and garlic in the olive oil until softened.
- Add the beans, zucchini, string beans, tomatoes, broth, herbs and bay leaf. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer for 20–30 minutes. Remove the bay leaf and season with salt and pepper.
- Add the orzo and serve hot.
℞ M.D. Notes
- Beans are widely recognized as a beneficial source of protein. The health benefits of beans have been attributed to the presence of phenolic compounds, which possess antioxidant properties.
- In a U.S. Department of Agriculture study, researchers measured the antioxidant capacities of more than 100 common foods. Three types of beans were among the top: small red beans, red kidney beans and pinto beans. Three other beans (black beans, navy beans and black-eyed peas) were in the top 40.
