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Slow Cooker (or not) Lebanese Quinoa and Pinto Bean Soup
with carrots / swiss chard / flatbread

Active: 35 Total: 455

This hearty soup of pan-toasted quinoa and aromatic vegetables is cozy and richly-spiced. Serve it with warm flatbread and enjoy on chilly fall evenings.
Cooking Methods: This recipe includes instructions for using the slow cooker or stovetop. Select your preferred method. 

Tags
Proteins

Ingredients

Metric
Servings:
4
Lebanese Spice Mix:
  • Coriander, ground - 1 tsp
  • Cumin, ground - 1 tsp
  • Allspice - 1/2 tsp
  • Paprika - 1/2 tsp
  • Cinnamon - 1/2 tsp
  • Salt - 1/2 tsp
  • Black pepper - 1/2 tsp
  • Turmeric, ground (opt) - 1/4 tsp
Quinoa and Pinto Bean Soup:
  • Carrots - 6 oz , chopped
  • Celery - 2 stalks , chopped
  • Onions, medium - 1 , chopped
  • Garlic - 2 cloves , chopped
  • Swiss chard - 1 bunch , stems chopped; leaves separated and chopped
  • Quinoa, uncooked - 1/2 cup
  • Oil, cooking - 1 Tbsp
  • Tomatoes, diced (14 oz / 397 g) - 1 can
  • Stock, any type - 6 cups
  • Beans, pinto (14 oz / 397 g) - 1 can , drained and rinsed
  • Lemon juice - 2 tsp
  • Flatbread, any gluten-free (opt) - 2
  • Yogurt, plain or Greek - 1/4 cup , for serving

Choose Cooking Method

Prep

  1. Make spice mix - Combine coriander, cumin, allspice, paprika, cinnamon, salt, pepper, and turmeric (if using). Store in an airtight container. (Can be done up to 5 days ahead)

  2. Carrots / Celery / Onions / Garlic - Prep as directed. Store carrots and celery together in one container. Store onions and garlic in their own separate containers. (Can be done up to 5 days ahead)

  3. Swiss chard - Separate leaves from stems. Trim the ends of the stems and chop stems into bite-sized pieces. Coarsely chop the leaves. Store leaves and stems separately. (Can be done up to 5 days ahead)

  4. Slow cook soup - Rinse the quinoa thoroughly under cold water. Heat a skillet with cooking oil over medium heat. Add onions with a pinch of salt and saute until they begin to soften, 3 to 4 minutes. Add garlic and quinoa and saute until garlic is fragrant and quinoa appears dry, 1 to 2 minutes. Stir in spice mix and continue to saute until spices are fragrant and everything is combined, ~1 minute more. Transfer quinoa to the bowl of a slow cooker. Stir in carrots, celery, chard stems, tomatoes, and stock. Slow cook the soup until the quinoa and vegetables are tender and the flavors have come together, 6 to 7 hours on low or 4 to 5 hours on high. Drain and rinse the beans. Fold in pinto beans and chard leaves during the last 30 minutes of cooking. (Can be done up to 5 days ahead)

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Make

  1. When soup is done, stir in lemon juice and season to taste with some salt and pepper.

  2. Warm flatbread according to package directions.

  3. Ladle soup into bowls and top with a spoonful of yogurt. Serve with warm flatbread on the side. Enjoy!

Prep

  1. Make spice mix - Combine coriander, cumin, allspice, paprika, cinnamon, salt, pepper, and turmeric (if using). Store in an airtight container. (Can be done up to 5 days ahead)

  2. Carrots / Celery / Onions / Garlic - Prep as directed. Store carrots, celery, and onions together in one container. Store garlic separately. (Can be done up to 5 days ahead)

  3. Swiss chard - Separate leaves from stems. Trim the ends of the stems and chop stems into bite-sized pieces. Coarsely chop the leaves. Store leaves and stems separately. (Can be done up to 5 days ahead)

  4. Quinoa - Rinse the quinoa thoroughly under cold water.

  5. Beans - Drain and rinse.

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Make

  1. Heat a Dutch oven with cooking oil over medium heat. Add carrots, celery, onions, and chard stems with a pinch of salt and saute until they begin to soften, 3 to 4 minutes.

  2. Add garlic and quinoa and saute until garlic is fragrant and quinoa appears dry, 1 to 2 minutes.

  3. Stir in spice mix and continue to saute until spices are fragrant and everything is combined, ~1 minute more.

  4. Add beans, tomatoes, and stock and bring to a simmer. Lower heat and simmer, partially covered, until quinoa and vegetables are tender, 20 to 25 minutes, stirring occasionally.

  5. Fold in chard leaves and simmer until just wilted ~5 minutes more.

  6. When soup is done, stir in lemon juice and season to taste with some salt and pepper.

  7. Warm flatbread according to package directions.

  8. Ladle soup into bowls and top with a spoonful of yogurt. Serve with warm flatbread on the side. Enjoy!


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