Vegan Oil-free Hearty Italian White Bean Basil Soup is full of Italian herbs and fresh basil and is super hearty thanks to protein-rich white beans and hearty rice. This will have your house smelling absolutely amazing too!
Oh, what an exciting post I have for you all today! It’s a new year with lots of exciting things to come on the blog. First up, is this Hearty Italian White Bean Basil Soup! Vegan, gluten-free and oil-free and just 8 ingredients! I wrote this recipe for my favorite home store ever, Pottery Barn. When they contacted me to create a healthy, simple recipe to kick off the new year, I jumped at the chance!
Everybody is always making New Year’s resolutions and thinking about diet changes or exercise routines. Most people think that you have to eat nothing but boring salads to achieve a healthier lifestyle. Well, I wanted to showcase a recipe that was much more interesting than salad, and at this time of year when it’s cold, a soup is perfect.
This soup is incredibly high in protein and nearly fat-free. It is not only delicious, but a healthy start to the new year.
HOW TO MAKE ITALIAN WHITE BEAN BASIL SOUP
You will need just 8 simple ingredients:
- brown rice
- low sodium vegetable broth
- yellow onion
- garlic cloves
- tomatoes
- Italian seasoning
- white beans
- fresh basil
First, prepare the rice by bringing 1 cup broth to a boil and then add the rice, salt and stir and immediately turn to the lowest heat setting and cover. Simmer for 20 minutes or until all the broth is evaporated.
While the rice is cooking, chop your vegetables. Add the onion and garlic to a large pot over medium heat with ONLY 1/2 cup of the broth and sauté for 5-8 minutes until tender, stirring frequently.
Add the remaining 4 1/2 cups broth, tomato sauce, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper and chili powder. Stir well and bring to a high boil. Once boiling, turn down to medium-high and cover and cook for 10 minutes.
Add the tomatoes, cover and cook on medium-low for another 10 minutes.
Lastly, add the drained beans, fresh basil and cooked rice. Stir well and bring back to a boil. Once boiling, let it cook on high for 5-10 more mins until heated through. Taste and add any additional spices if needed. Serve immediately and garnish with more fresh basil, if desired.
This soup has Italian herbs throughout, a fresh tomato base, hearty white beans, textured rice and fresh basil. You will feel full and satisfied and not bored by it, I promise. I used Pottery Barn’s gorgeous Vintage Wood Bowls. I wanted to serve the soup in something other than your expected white bowls. I’m a huge fan of distressed, worn woods and pieces and these bowls are just beautiful.
A huge thank you to Pottery Barn for sponsoring this post. Be sure to check out Pottery Barn and blog to see this recipe featured.
Can’t wait to hear what you think of this Hearty Italian White Bean Basil Soup!
Hearty Italian White Bean Basil Soup
Ingredients
Recipe has been updated to include optional tomato sauce for a richer tomato flavor. It makes it even MORE amazing!!
- 1/2 cup (72g) uncooked long grain brown rice + 1 cup low-sodium broth
- 1/8 teaspoon fine sea salt
FOR THE SOUP
- 5 cups low sodium vegetable broth
- 1 cup (240g) tomato sauce
- 1 packed cup finely diced yellow onion
- 4 large garlic cloves (1 large tbsp minced)
- 2 Roma tomatoes, roughly chopped (about 2 cups)
- 1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- salt and pepper (I added 1 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper)
- Optional: I love a little heat to everything so I added a heaping tsp chili powder, or pinch chili flakes would work too)
- two 15 oz low-sodium canned white beans, drained & rinsed
- 1/2 packed cup finely chopped fresh basil (don't leave this out, it really brings it all together!)
Note
- I used an Italian spice blend that you can find at any grocery store. Mine is a combo of basil, oregano, thyme, rosemary, savory, fennel, sage and marjoram. Some versions have red pepper or salt, so I would avoid those as it could make the soup really spicy.
Instructions
- In a medium pot, prepare the rice first by bringing 1 cup broth to a boil and then add the rice, salt and stir and immediately turn to the lowest heat setting and cover. Simmer for 20 minutes or until all the broth is evaporated. Return the lid and let it sit covered 10 minutes.
- While the rice is cooking, chop your vegetables. Add the onion and garlic to a large pot over medium heat with ONLY 1/2 cup of the broth and sauté for 5-8 minutes until tender, stirring frequently. Add the remaining 4 1/2 cups broth, tomato sauce, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper and chili powder. Stir well and bring to a high boil. Once boiling, turn down to medium-high and cover and cook for 10 minutes. This really infuses the broth with flavor.
- Now add the tomatoes, cover and cook on medium-low for another 10 minutes.
- Lastly, add the drained beans, fresh basil and cooked rice. Stir well and bring back to a boil. Once boiling, let it cook on high for 5-10 more mins until heated through. Taste and add any additional spices if needed. Serve immediately and garnish with more fresh basil, if desired.
Notes
- Vegan, gluten-free, oil-free, nut-free
- Nutrition per serving: 271.4 calories, 14.12 g protein, .6 g fat, 51.54 carbs, 6.2 g sugars
This looks like a hearty yummy soup. I love bean soup. Love the fresh basil addition.
Thanks Cindy! The basil really completely the soup. I LOVE fresh basil.
I think Pottery Barn selected the RIGHT person, Brandi! The table and settings look gorgeous and the soup sounds like something I would love – comforting, hearty, simple. Great job!
Thank you so much Annie! You are such a sweetheart! The soup is great because it is filling, yet so light at the same time 🙂
As usual your recipe sounds delicious. I think this needs to happen in my kitchen this week as it’s very cold and windy here at the Jersey Shore! I absolutely love what you did with the Pottery Barn accessories and I think those wooden bowls are seriously to die for. They look like they would feel so comfortable in my hands as I down the last drops of that delicious soup 🙂
Thank you so much sweet Jen!! So glad you love it! Oh, and yes, these bowls are stunning. Just stunning. Like I mention in my post, I love rustic, distressed wood pieces (they are all over my house) so these bowls were a much different look I wanted for the soup than traditional bowls. They held up perfectly with hot soup too! Lighter than porcelain too 🙂
This looks delicious Brandi! I love white bean soups and of course the heat would be a definitely for me. lol! And congrats on the feature, so awesome and well deserved!
Thank you so much Sophia! It’s an honor and I’m a Pottery Barn addict, so this post was a blast! Oh and yes, I put lots of chili flakes in mine too, haha!
Very cool congratulations Brandi. Such a nice feature and a great bowl of soup. Love how it is presented, just beautiful.
Thank you so much Suzanne for the compliment! I had a lot of fun!
Pottery Barn was smart to contact you!! This post, these photos, and this SOUP look so lovely. I like the switch up of photo style with (your husband perhaps?) holding the bowl. I think it’s time I make some soup!
Awww thank you Brittany for the love! Thank you so much for your kind words! Yes, that would be my sexy hubby, lol! So glad you like the pics 🙂
Just made this for dinner…can’t wait cause my kitchen smells so delicious….thanks for the recipe…
Wonderful! Can’t wait to hear what you think and YES, it makes your whole kitchen smell AMAZING!
I had a little bit of it cause it was very filling to me….great job!
Yes, that’s what I love too, how it is so filling! So glad you enjoyed it! 🙂
Omg!!! Your a genius girl!! I ate two bowls of this soup. I can’t wait to have some more tw!
I’m so happy you loved it so much, thank you for the feedback!!
Simple, hearty recipes have all my heart. I had stopped cooking from recipes on the internet for a while because there was nothing minimalist yet filling I could make until!! this recipe came into my life. And it’s super quick to make. Perfect.
I just want to warn future readers that this was so good I went to bed wanting to eat what was left of it for breakfast in the next morning! I also was a bit sick so this really hit the spot.
Thank you so much for sharing this, I know I’ll be remaking the wonderful soup!
Thank you so much Inv for the wonderful feedback on here and on Facebook! I truly appreciate it and so glad you enjoyed the soup that much! 🙂
My whole family has had a cough so our throats have been scratchy, and we’ve been eating soup for almost every meal it seems like! I’m definitely going to try this soup this weekend. It’ll be nice to add a new one to the mix : )
Awesome Ashlee, thank you! Please let me know what you think of it! Oh and yes, we’ve been eating soup all season, seriously, can’t get enough of it.
That is some amazing photography Brandi. i’d buy the whole table if it came with the soup :)) Happy 2015!
Awww thank you Richa! I had fun with these photos! Happy 2015 to you sweet friend! xo
What a gorgeous, hearty soup! I could use a bowl of this right now, it’s supposed to be TEN DEGREES tonight!!!
Ouch! That’s COLD! I can barely handle 40 degrees!
thanks for this recipe, I was looking for something to do with Barley.
Yay for pottterrybarn!
*Question: how practical are those wooden bowls?* washing, using, lining?
Thanks in advance 🙂
Hi Anna! I’m sure you could easily sub the rice with barley, no problem 🙂 Oh, and I have found the bowls to be even more practical than I hoped, honestly. I have been using them as soup bowls for the past week and they are just perfect. You do need to handwash them, which is super simple, but I handwash a lot of my nice bowls anyways. But it is the perfect size for a good bowl of soup too and it doesn’t hurt that they are gorgeous 🙂
Thank you, Brandi for this delicious recipe. It’s super cold here in Asheville tonight and this soup is perfectly satisfying – warming, filling, and light! Of course it doesn’t hurt that the whole apartment smells amazing now. 🙂 I also love your table settings – great job! Thanks for the inspiration.
Wonderful Amanda!! I’m so happy you loved it! That is what I love about it, it is filling, yet it doesn’t weight you down either! Thank you so much for the compliment…it was a lot of fun! 🙂
Brandi! This soup looks and sounds incredible! I can’t wait to try this 🙂 Oh! I’m obsessed with distressed wood – so beautiful.
Thank you so much Mandy! ME TOO! It’s all over my house…my favorite look mixed with clean, classic pieces!
TOTALLY love it!!! You’re amazing Brandi, and gosh…your pics are exceedingly stunning. Happy New Years!!
Aww thank you so much Kirtley! SO kind of you to say that! Happy new years!!
First off – Congrats on the feature!!! I LOVE Pottery Barn and you totally captured the cozy feel of their store in these photos! And I literally cannot wait to try this soup – I am a BIG fan of your “Chicken” Noodle Soup – it’s a staple around here. Hope you’re having a great week 😀
Thank you so much Ceara, that means the world to me! I was really hoping to honor their style through my photos. Ironically, this is exactly how my house looks with the warm tones and reds…I wasn’t kidding when I said it’s my favorite home store. This really was the most exciting post I think I’ve done so far. True honor.
I’m SO happy you love the Classic Noodle Soup too! It is one of my hubby’s favorites! XO
Brandi I just wanted you to know I made this soup and it was incredible! I loved how all the flavors melded into such a delicious concoction. I also added some fingerling potatoes and fresh sage, thyme, and rosemary which added another dimension of flavor and heartiness. Thank you so much for the wonderful recipe!!
Thank you so much for the wonderful feedback David both here and on Instagram and Twitter! I am so glad you loved it and potatoes are pretty much my favorite food, so they would be tasty in this I’m sure! Thanks again!
I never heard of Pottery Barn until this…. Love the bowl! And the soup looks great in it too. Hmmm..
Really?! Where do you live? They are hugely popular here in America and been around for years
That saves me. Thanks for being so seslbine!
Excellent soup and even better the next day. It has really good flavors and we did make it spicy since that’s how we like it. Another winner Brandi.
Wonderful Estee!! I’m so happy to hear that, thank you so much for the feedback and your photo you shared on Facebook, I really appreciate it! 🙂
Wow, this soup looks phenomenal, “comfort-foody,” beautiful, tasty and like the perfect winter soup. Your pictures are gorgeous, of course, and you fit right it with Pottery Barn. Congrats on working with them too….that is so so fun!
Thank you so much Melanie! You’re a sweetheart!
This soup is amazing Brandi! Thank you so much for sharing! It’s light and filling at the same time!
Wonderful Laura! I’m so glad you loved it, thank you so much for making it!! 🙂
This looks amazing!! How much is a serving?
Hi Sara! About 1 1/2 cups…It divides pretty perfectly between 4 standard soup or cereal bowls 🙂
So delicious! My hubs, two kids (7 and 3) and I ate it right up (a rare occurrence with those two little ones!). Thanks for sharing!!
Yay Kristie! I’m thrilled to hear that, thank you so much for letting me know, it’s so appreciated!
Made this last night. My new favorite soup!!
Golda, I’m so happy to hear that, thank you so much!
This was really delicious! We did some chili salt on it and a little squeeze of lemon. Fantastic! It may be filling but it didn’t slow us down. Seriously, when are you going to invent a vegan hotdog recipe?! Thanks again, Brandi!
Hi Nina! I’m so sorry I just saw this comment! I get so many and sometimes one slips through. Anyways, I am so happy you loved the soup and chili salt and lemon sounds incredible! Vegan hotdog? Oh gosh, I don’t know, haha! I’ll have to work on that!!
Tried this soup last night. It was so delicious. I followed the exact recipe. It felt very light and yet was very filling. Thanks.
Awesome! That’s exactly how it should be…light, but filling! I’m so happy you loved it so much, thank you so much for the feedback. I love to hear it!
Yum, this soup was delicious, very cozy and filling. My whole family loved it! Thanks so much!?
Wonderful Kay! I’m so happy to hear that, thank you so much for the feedback!
Oh my it looks incredibly delicious. I am so going to cook this soup. Very healthy my son is going to love it.
Thank you so much Sonia, I can’t wait to hear what you both think!
This sounds like a great recipe to try. Thanks for sharing this..
Simon
Thank you! Let me know when you do!
This soup looks amazing! Do you think it could work in a crockpot? Thanks for sharing!
Hi Chelsea! I have never tried it in a crockpot, so I don’t know how well it would work. It is a very quick soup, so I think a crockpot would be a bit too much since that’s designed more for slow cooking.
I made this soup tonight and it was absolutely delicious! I loved how flavourful and hearty it was. My husband, our two toddler daughters and my husband’s brother all approved. Since going vegan I have tried a lot of recipes and unfortunately many have gone straight into the garbage. I have tried about half a dozen of your recipes and they have all been amazing! Thank you!
Wow, now that’s a great homerun to have all of those people love it! Thank you so much Nicole for such amazing feedback, it really did make my day! So happy to hear all of my recipes so far have been hits, that really means so much to hear, so please keep leaving feedback on the recipes! Thank you 🙂
This soup is delicious! I have made it at least 6 times this month, plus taken to a potluck and served for company. I really cant get enough of it. Its probably my most favorite soup, ever!!!
Do you use cannellini beans or Northern for this recipe? I have both.
Either will work 🙂 But I used cannellini.
This soup was a hit with the whole family. Thank you for such an easy yet super yummy recipe!
So happy to hear that, thank you so much Natasha for the feedback!
Just made it. YUMMMMMMY!!! Thanks!
Wonderful Linda, I’m so happy to hear that!
Started typing this review before last step was complete. My kitchen smells like heaven! Can’t wait to serve this soup w crusty sourdough bread. YUM.
20 minutes later: WINNER! Hearty, creamy, bursting w flavor. Already looking forward to lunch tomorrow.
Thanks, Brandi!
Yay!! So happy you loved it Courtney, thank you for the feedback!!
Just has it for lunch. Easy and yummy. I had problems finding fresh basil, I used dehydrated. I’m sure it would be better with fresh basil, still it was very very good!
Thank you!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it Alberto! Yes, fresh basil takes it over the top!
Hmmmm, well I don’t even know where to begin on my review of this recipe. It is BY FAR my favorite recipe of any soup I’ve ever made! I made mine a little too spicy for my young kids so I had to add a bit more water to it so it didn’t turn out as thick looking as Brandi’s BUT, even with the heat, my 7 & 8 year olds loved it so much, I didn’t ONCE have to yell at them to eat. As a matter of fact, they ate it so fast, asked for seconds and then asked if they could take any leftovers to school for lunch! I’m already looking forward to eating the leftovers tomorrow morning for breakfast! 😋
Thank you so much Samantha for the amazing feedback! I’m so happy to hear it, that is wonderful your kids loved it too!
Yum!!! Made this for dinner tonight. It was delish! I am slowly changing to a vegan diet. My Husband isn’t following my lead. So unfortunately we’re usually cooking two separate meals. But he wasn’t in the mood to cook tonight and had this wonderful soup with me. We both loved it!! It is so flavorful and very filling. He’s “resting up” right now and says he’s going back for more in a bit. Thank you so much for sharing your recipe. We loved it!
That is so awesome! Thank you so much for the feedback Mimi!