Three-Bean Soup

A hearty and flavorful soup featuring three types of beans - lima, Romano, and sugar snap peas - combined with bacon, leeks, and aromatic vegetables, finished with a bright dill-fennel pesto and topped with Parmesan.

6 servings

1 hr 35 min

Published October 4, 2025

Ingredients

•2 medium leeks
•1 head garlic
•3 oz bacon
•2½ Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
•2 small fennel bulbs
•1 stalk celery
•3 sprigs thyme
•1 leaf bay leaf
•1¾ Tbsp kosher salt
•¾ cup dried large lima beans
•¾ tsp red pepper flakes
•8 oz Romano beans
•8 oz sugar snap peas
•½ bunch dill
•1 whole lemon
•¼ cup crème fraîche
•1 tsp black pepper
•2 oz Parmesan
•1 loaf crusty bread

Cooking Instructions

1.
Quarter leeks lengthwise, then cut crosswise into 1/2" pieces. Rinse leeks in a fine-mesh strainer and pat dry with paper towels. Smash garlic cloves with the flat side of a chef's knife and peel; set 2 cloves aside.
10 min
2.
Cook bacon in a large Dutch oven or other heavy pot over medium heat, stirring, until golden brown and starting to crisp, 8-10 minutes. Add smashed garlic and 2 Tbsp. oil and cook, stirring often, until garlic is just beginning to turn golden 3-4 minutes. Add leeks, chopped fennel, celery, thyme, bay leaf, and 1 Tbsp. salt. Cook, stirring often, until vegetables are beginning to soften, about 4 minutes. Add lima beans, red pepper flakes, and 6 cups water and bring to a simmer. Partially cover pot, reduce heat to low, and gently simmer, occasionally skimming and discarding any foam that rises to the surface, until beans are slightly crunchy but not quite creamy, 25 minutes. Add Romano beans and snap peas, return to a simmer, and continue to cook, adding just enough water to keep beans submerged, until dried beans are creamy and fresh beans are just cooked through, about 15 minutes more.
60 min
3.
Meanwhile, pulse dill, zest of whole lemon, fennel fronds, and 1 reserved garlic clove in a food processor until finely chopped. With the motor running, stream in 1/2 cup oil. Add 3/4 tsp. salt and squeeze in 2 tsp. lemon juice. Transfer pesto to a small bowl and set aside.
10 min
4.
Remove stew from heat and stir in crème fraîche, black pepper, and 4 tsp. lemon juice. Taste and adjust seasoning.
5 min
5.
Rub bread with remaining garlic clove, drizzle with oil, and season lightly with salt.
5 min
6.
Ladle soup into bowls. Drizzle with pesto, then top with shaved Parmesan. Serve with garlic bread and remaining pesto alongside.
5 min

Ingredients

•2 medium leeks

•1 head garlic

•3 oz bacon

•2½ Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil

•2 small fennel bulbs

•1 stalk celery

•3 sprigs thyme

•1 leaf bay leaf

•1¾ Tbsp kosher salt

•¾ cup dried large lima beans

•¾ tsp red pepper flakes

•8 oz Romano beans

•8 oz sugar snap peas

•½ bunch dill

•1 whole lemon

•¼ cup crème fraîche

•1 tsp black pepper

•2 oz Parmesan

•1 loaf crusty bread

Cooking Instructions

Quarter leeks lengthwise, then cut crosswise into 1/2" pieces. Rinse leeks in a fine-mesh strainer and pat dry with paper towels. Smash garlic cloves with the flat side of a chef's knife and peel; set 2 cloves aside.

10 min

Cook bacon in a large Dutch oven or other heavy pot over medium heat, stirring, until golden brown and starting to crisp, 8-10 minutes. Add smashed garlic and 2 Tbsp. oil and cook, stirring often, until garlic is just beginning to turn golden 3-4 minutes. Add leeks, chopped fennel, celery, thyme, bay leaf, and 1 Tbsp. salt. Cook, stirring often, until vegetables are beginning to soften, about 4 minutes. Add lima beans, red pepper flakes, and 6 cups water and bring to a simmer. Partially cover pot, reduce heat to low, and gently simmer, occasionally skimming and discarding any foam that rises to the surface, until beans are slightly crunchy but not quite creamy, 25 minutes. Add Romano beans and snap peas, return to a simmer, and continue to cook, adding just enough water to keep beans submerged, until dried beans are creamy and fresh beans are just cooked through, about 15 minutes more.

60 min

Meanwhile, pulse dill, zest of whole lemon, fennel fronds, and 1 reserved garlic clove in a food processor until finely chopped. With the motor running, stream in 1/2 cup oil. Add 3/4 tsp. salt and squeeze in 2 tsp. lemon juice. Transfer pesto to a small bowl and set aside.

10 min

Remove stew from heat and stir in crème fraîche, black pepper, and 4 tsp. lemon juice. Taste and adjust seasoning.

5 min

Rub bread with remaining garlic clove, drizzle with oil, and season lightly with salt.

5 min

Ladle soup into bowls. Drizzle with pesto, then top with shaved Parmesan. Serve with garlic bread and remaining pesto alongside.

5 min