This Blue Zone Has Half The Heart Disease As America — Try Their Soup Recipe

This timeless blend delivers on flavor and fiber.

Koichiko Koichiko
Sep 1, 2023 - 21:02
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This Blue Zone Has Half The Heart Disease As America — Try Their Soup Recipe
Dan Buettner

Author:

September 1, 2023

Dan Buettner

New York Times Bestselling Author

By Dan Buettner

New York Times Bestselling Author

Dan Buettner is a National Geographic Fellow and bestselling author who discovered and reported on the Blue Zones.

September 1, 2023

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Greeks, and Ikarians especially, have mastered the blend of lemon, olive oil, and herbs. This simple soup is a warming alternative to chicken soup in the winter, and yet another way to creatively make beans taste good and figure into your daily diet. Chickpea soup is one of the most classic comfort foods in Ikaria and even throughout the rest of Greece—you’ll find it in almost every home and tavern.

Total Cook Time: 2 hours 20 minutes (45 minutes if using canned chickpeas)

Serves 6

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Chickpea soup with lemon and herbs

Ingredients

1 pound dried chickpeas, soaked overnight, rinsed, and peeled (or four 15-ounce cans low-sodium chickpeas, drained)1 medium onion, coarsely chopped1 garlic clove, minced1 bay leafó cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for servingSalt and pepperJuice of 3 lemons, for serving
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Directions

Place the drained chickpeas in a pot with just enough water to cover, and bring them to a boil. Remove from the heat, drain, rinse, and put them into a clean pot.Add the onion, garlic, bay leaf, olive oil, and enough water to cover the ingredients. Stir to combine.If using dried chickpeas, bring to a boil and then simmer for about 2 hours, or until chickpeas are soft.If using canned chickpeas, bring to a boil and then simmer for 30 minutes, adding a few tablespoons of water at a time to thin the soup as needed.Remove from the heat and discard the bay leaf. Add salt and pepper to taste.Serve with generous drizzles of lemon juice and olive oil

Excerpted from the book The Blue Zones Secrets for Living Longer by Dan Buettner. Copyright © 2023. Reprinted with permission of National Geographic. All rights reserved.

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