Red pepper & kidney bean soup (dairy free)
I’m always trying to get my son to eat soup as it’s so easy to cram loads of veggies in. Alas, he rarely shows any interest if my husband or I make it for him. But, in typical toddler fashion, he will happily eat this red pepper and kidney soup his grandparents give him.Â
Quick reference dietary information
Dairy, egg & soy free | gluten free | nut free | sesame free
This red pepper and kidney bean soup proved a particular hit on a recent visit – among both the children and the adults. So much so that I actually attempted it when I got home, and it wasn’t wholeheartedly rejected… It’s got a lovely smokey flavour and contains a whopping four different types of veg. I particularly like the fact it has got kidney beans in. An easy and low cost way to add a good dose of protein!
Which dietary requirements is this red pepper and kidney bean soup suitable for?
This soup is:
- Dairy free
- Soya free
- Gluten free
- Nut free
- Sesame free
I would highlight that you need to check the ingredients of any stock cubes you use. They do sometimes have surprising ingredients, such as gluten or soy, hiding in there. We use Kallo low salt stock cubes, which meet all the criteria above (this is true at the time of writing, but always double check ingredients for yourself. They can and do change without warning).
Soup is really such a quick and easy lunch option for kids. Particularly so for children with Cows’s Milk Protein Allergy (and other food allergies), as it is so adaptable.
Is red pepper and kidney bean soup suitable for babies?
I wouldn’t give too much of this to children under one; it contains bacon, meaning the salt content is relatively high. However, you could always cut the amount of bacon down a bit. In general, soup works well for baby-led weaning when served with some fingers of toast or pitta for dipping.
Can this soup be frozen?
Yes, it freezes very well. It’s also straightforward to batch cook by simply doubling (or tripling!) the recipe quantities, so it makes sense to do some extra for the freezer!
To freeze, simply let the soup cool and then portion it up into freezer bags or containers.When you want to cook it, let it defrost fully and then heat through in a saucepan util piping hot.
*Breaking news 2021*
OK, that might be slightly over the top. But I’m reviewing this post a couple of years down the line and now have two children who happily eat soup. This includes an opinionated 2 year old ! Well, she only eats it off the end of toast or a bread stick whilst chanting ‘dip and eat, dip and eat’ but it still counts…
My son will now eat a whole bowl and tip it up to drink the last bit, something I couldn’t have envisaged a few years ago. So, persevere!
Red pepper & kidney bean soup (dairy free)
Ingredients
- Rapeseed or olive oil, for frying
- 2 red peppers, deseeded and chopped
- 1 onion, skin removed and chopped
- 4 rashers of unsmoked bacon, chopped into small pieces
- 900 ml low salt vegetable stock, e.g. by Kallo (always check ingredients for allergens)
- 400 g tin kidney beans, drained and rinsed (choose a tin with no added salt)
- 400 g tin chopped tomatoes
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 bay leaf
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a large saucepan.
- Add the chopped onion, peppers and bacon. Fry on a medium heat for 5 minutes, until the vegetables begin to soften.
- While the vegetables and bacon are cooking, make up your stock according to the packet instructions.
- Then add the stock, chopped tomatoes, kidney beans, paprika and bay leaf to the pan.
- Bring it to the boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for around 30 minutes.
- Remove the bay leaf from the pan. Then liquidise everything else using a food processor or stick blender.
Notes
- If you or your child has an allergy, always double check that the recipe and all of the components are suitable. This includes checking ‘may contain’ statements on each ingredient and making your own assessment of risk based on personal circumstances.
- Any leftovers can be frozen for use at a later date.
You may also be interested in these other light lunch ideas:
- Dairy free lunchbox ideas
- 10 dairy recipes containing vegetables for picky eaters
- Quick and easy vegan avocado pasta
- Gluten free root vegetable pasties
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