Are you a fan of thick, comforting soup, and a pot of nourishing beans? Consider combining them! Either canned or dried beans work marvelously, not just by piling on protein to meat and vegetarian soups, but also by enhancing the flavour and richness of the broth. A bean variety like cannellini thickens your soup by releasing starch while cooking. As a bonus, beans freeze well, allowing you to savor these soups for a long time. Dive into these suggested recipes.

Consider a rich soup enhanced with cannellini beans and cream, and topped with pancetta and garlic confit for an extraordinary twist. Alternatively, you could enjoy a warming rosemary-infused soup, comprising of canned white beans, tomatoes, and Savoy cabbage, and garnished with salty prosciutto. Vegetarians can consider a robust soup featuring a 15-bean soup mix with varieties like Northern, pinto, garbanzo, and lima.

An inspiring vegetarian adaptation of traditional pozole by chef Marcela Vallodolid uses chickpeas instead of hominy and swaps meat for portobello and shiitake mushrooms. For a more savory option, a soup packed with cannellini beans, pork, and hearty vegetables like potatoes and Swiss chard, is hard to beat.

Some soups, like one from League of Kitchens instructor Damira Inatullaeva, feature apricot-enhanced mung beans and rice. Other versions feature fire-roasted tomatoes and peppers, borlotti beans, and ditalini pasta. Three cans of cannellini beans become pureed with fragrant vegetables and ham-infused chicken stock to create a smoky soup garnished with diced ham and croutons.

For those with a flair for spice, a soup with protein-packed boneless chicken thighs and navy beans, serves as a great base for avocado, tortilla chips, shredded cheese, and sour cream. For a slow-cooked option, a warming soup with overnight-soaked pinto beans or borloggi and aromatics like tomatoes, simmered with delectable butternut squash chunks, may just hit the spot.

A rustic Italian soup with stale Tuscan-style bread, cannellini beans, Yukon Gold potatoes, and kale, soaked in a tomatoey broth is ideal for those craving an Italian touch. The taste and texture of a dense, cumin-spiced soup made from dried black beans and topped with Spanish-style chorizo bits is unique and delightful.

For the lovers of thyme and rosemary, try chef Jose Garces' soup garnished with bacon and made with Great Northern beans, inspired by Spanish caldo gallego. If you prefer a milder option, try a simple yet elegant soup from Gwyneth Paltrow with vegetable stock, cannellini beans, and slow-cooked onions with fennel and garlic.

Lastly, for a hint of Moroccan taste, try a fragrant vegetarian soup packed with lentils and canned chickpeas, seasoned with turmeric, ginger, and cinnamon. These soup recipes offer a variety of tastes that will keep your tummy satisfied and your health in check.