Quick Tomato-y Brothy Beans with Cheddar Croutons

episode #83 of 30-minute budget meals

My sister, who inspired me to create this 30-minute budget meal series, asked me to make a brothy beans recipe this week. I thought I for sure already had one, but I have lots of creamy beans and not a 30-minute brothy bean.

Now, a true, brothy bean in my mind is made with dried beans, simmered over the pot for hours. You create the broth with lots of aromatics, herbs, some fat, and the stock of the beans. But you know what, not everyone has time for that! Sometimes, we want a pot of brothy beans, immediately. So here we are!

These brothy beans are tomato-y, made with tomato paste and jarred sundried tomatoes. Don’t think of it is a thick tomato soup — it’s still light and brothy. My favorite part is the cheddar croutons on top that give a slight grilled cheese essence but also provide texture for the soup.

RECIPE!

Quick Tomato-y Brothy Beans with Cheddar Croutons

Ingredients (serves 3)