Luscious Lima Bean Soup

Ingredients

• 5  carrots chopped
• 2 stalks celery chopped
• 1  leek chopped
• 1 pound lima beans *soaked overnight dry
• 2 tablespoons olive oil 
• 2 tablespoons shallots minced
• 4 cubes vegetable bouillon 
• 8 cups water 

Equipment

• pot

Directions

1. Bring 4 cups of water to a boil.
2. Add dry lima beans, and boil for 2 to 3 minutes.
3. Remove from heat, and allow the beans to sit, covered, for 1 to 2 hours to soften.
4. Drain and rinse until water runs clear, discarding bean water.
5. In a soup pot, saute vegetables in olive oil until onions and celery are translucent.
6. Add lima beans, and saute for another 2 to 3 minutes.
7. In the meantime, bring 4 cups of water to a boil.
8. Add the vegetable bouillon to the boiling water, and stir until dissolved.
9. Add broth to the sauteed vegetables and beans.
10. Add remaining water, and allow soup to simmer over a low flame for 1 to 1 1/2 hours.
11. Serve steaming hot.