Bouneschlupp (Luxembourg Green Bean Soup with Bacon and Potatoes)
In short: A thick green bean soup with potatoes, smoky bacon, leek and carrot, finished with cream and parsley, a Luxembourg everyday favorite. It takes about 1 h 10 min in total and makes 6 servings.
- Prep
- 20 min
- Cook
- 50 min
- Total
- 1 h 10 min
- Servings
- 6
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 340 kcal
Bouneschlupp is the green bean soup that many Luxembourg households make through summer and into autumn, when the beans are at their best. Bacon is browned first so its smoke seasons everything, then beans, potatoes, leek and carrot simmer together until the broth thickens from the potato. A splash of cream rounds it out, and some families serve a smoked sausage on the side. It is a full meal with bread.
Instructions
- Melt the butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add the bacon and cook for 5 minutes, until the fat renders and the bacon starts to brown.
- Add the onion, leek, carrots and celery and cook for 6 minutes, stirring, until softened.
- Add the green beans, potatoes, water or stock, bay leaf and thyme. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat, cover and simmer for 25 to 30 minutes, until the beans and potatoes are very tender.
- Crush some of the potato against the side of the pot with a spoon to thicken the soup, leaving plenty of chunks.
- Stir in the cream and parsley and warm through for 3 minutes without boiling. Season with pepper and salt, going carefully because the bacon is salty.
- If using sausages, warm them in the soup for the last 10 minutes or brown them separately. Ladle into bowls and serve hot with crusty bread.
Tips
- Cook the beans until completely soft rather than crisp-tender, because this soup depends on their mellow flavor. Frozen green beans work all year: add them with the potatoes and shorten the simmer by 5 minutes.
- Thicken a thin soup by mashing more potato rather than adding flour. For a lighter soup, replace the cream with whole milk.
Questions and answers
What is bouneschlupp?
It is a Luxembourg green bean soup made with potatoes, bacon and vegetables, often finished with cream. It is hearty enough to serve as a main course with bread.
Can I make bouneschlupp without bacon?
Yes. Cook the vegetables in butter, use vegetable stock and add 1 tsp smoked paprika for a hint of smokiness. The soup tastes lighter but is still filling.
How long does bouneschlupp keep?
It keeps for 3 days in the fridge and thickens as it stands, so add a splash of water or stock when reheating. Freeze it without the cream for up to 3 months.
How long does it take to make Bouneschlupp (Luxembourg Green Bean Soup with Bacon and Potatoes)?
About 1 h 10 min in total: 20 min of preparation and 50 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Bouneschlupp (Luxembourg Green Bean Soup with Bacon and Potatoes)?
About 340 kcal per serving, with 8 g of protein, 27 g of carbohydrates and 22 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 340 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 8 g |
| Carbohydrates | 27 g |
| Fat | 22 g |
| Fiber | 6 g |
| Sugar | 5 g |
| Sodium | 800 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
