Hungarian Yellow “Green” Bean Soup
A tasty but quick summer soup made with yellow wax beans. These are mild, sweet, and slightly buttery, with a crisp texture. The recipe works with green beans too.The soup is thickened to a creamier consistency using a flour-based mixture (or a roux) and sour cream and often acidified with a little vinegar or lemon juice, lends the soup a smooth, creamy, and slightly tangy character. Green bean soup with sour cream, especially when served chilled in summer is a classic, hearty Hungarian dish.
Ingredients
Method
- Heat the2 tbsp vegetable oil or another neutral cooking oilin a large pot, add the finely chopped1 small yellow onion. Saute for 2-3 minutes until it becomes soft and translucent. Turn the heat down and add the2 cloves garlic, then the 1 tsp sweet paprika.
- Add the prepared 1 lb (500g) fresh yellow wax beans,7 oz (200g) carrots, 7 oz (200g) potatoes to the pot and pour in about 7 cups (1.6 l) vegetable broth or water. salt to taste. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer until the vegetables are tender.
- In a small bowl combine the ½ cup (115g) sour cream with the1 tbsp all-purpose flour – heaped, about 15–20 gand temper it by ladling in some liquid from the hot soup and stirring thoroughly.
- Pour the sourcream mixture into the simmering soup and bring it to a boil while stirring. Cook for 2-3 minutes until the flour cooks and slightly thickens the soup.
- Add in the 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice or vinegar, then taste and adjust the seasoning.
- Serve with chopped fresh parsley or dill , freshly ground black pepper, with a slice of bread on the side.
- This soup is also delicious served chilled, as a refreshing hot summer day dish.
Notes
You can trim off only the stem ends and leave the pointy tail end on the bean. It is tender and safe to eat.
I have made a similar soup with only the wax beans, paprika, salt and garlic. Next time, I will try this recipe for something different. For dessert, may I suggest what we always make–cheese filled palacsintas with sweetened sour cream topping. Yummy!
Hi Marcia, The sweet cheese filled pancakes/palacsintas sound lovely and would be perfect to serve after this soup and quite the Hungarian way to finish a meal.:-)
Good soup recipe. We are Hungarian and my father made this soup all the time. HE substituted chicken broth for the water. I followed the recipe with the chicken broth and it not only is delicious but very authentic.
I,m Hungarian, and I can tell you, that I often put flamed sausages in it, and always put a tablespoon of sugar and vinegar in it before I finish. This is my favourite soup after the “Húsleves”.
I am also a Hungarian and I have never in my life had potatoes, onions, sausages or vinegar and sugar in this soup. However, always carrots and small dumplings
I’m sure there are many variations around, always interesting to hear how others make it. Ahány ház, annyi szokás :-)
Wanted to use up my wax beans. Found this soup on Google. Love it. Thanks
best bean soup I have been eating since I was young I am 79 now
I just today, bought some fresh beans to make this soup that reminds me of my Mother. She always told me she preferred to use canned, only because it was quicker. Im retired now, so I can wait ❤️
What can I use instead of corn flour? Is cornstarch or cornmeal a good substitute?
Corn starch is basically corn flour so yes, that’s fine