Lemony White Bean, Potato and Artichoke Soup with Orzo. Oil-free.

Lemony White Bean Potato Artichoke Orzo Soup by An Unrefined Vegan

Warning: this post has absolutely nothing to do with Lemony White Bean, Potato & Artichoke Soup. If you came here for soup and soup only, scroll down and you’ll find the recipe below.

The other day Kel and I watched a documentary on the April 1995 bombing of the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City. The film came at the subject from an unexpected (at least for us) angle and it was fascinating, frightening and deeply disturbing. Our lengthy discussion following the documentary eventually led us to the topic of the mother of all conspiracy theories: the assassination of JFK. 

And, since one can’t talk about that day without at least mentioning the famous Zapruder film taken during President Kennedy’s ill-fated trip to Dallas on November 22, 1963, we had to fire up YouTube to watch it a few times. Kel had never seen it before.

Alexander Zapruder, a JFK admirer and amateur photographer, took his Bell & Howell Zoomatic (the name evokes the let’s-land-a-man-on-the-moon optimism of the early- to mid-60s, doesn’t it?) to record what was expected to be an uneventful drive through the city followed by lunch with a few Texas politicians. Later, the footage Mr. Zapruder shot would become integral to the Warren Commission investigation and one of the most scrutinized film recordings ever. (Imagine if Lincoln’s assassination at the Ford Theater had been captured on film! Sic semper tyrannis!) 

If you haven’t seen this stunning 26.6-second historically and forensically important film and you have a strong stomach (especially if you view it in slow motion or frame-by-frame, options you’ll find on YouTube), you owe it to yourself to take a look. (It is, btw, without sound.) Rather than definitively revealing the details behind Kennedy’s death (i.e., was there more than one shooter? Did the fatal shot come from behind? From the side?) it seems to have ensured that the debate about what really happened will continue for eternity.

The footage is raw and startling and painful. There is no question that the second shot that hits Kennedy is fatal. It killed him literally, of course, but it also pierced the shiny Camelot chainmail. The line between life and death is awfully narrow; the President was a mere mortal just like us.

What makes this film all the more wrenching is that it has that sun-washed, faded and blurred, romantic haze of family home movies from the golden post-WWII years. You know – picnics, vacations, first steps of infants, Thanksgiving dinners, presents being opened on Christmas mornings, touch football games played among fall leaves, and proud owners grinning as they show off their shiny new Pontiacs. The colors of the Zapruder clip are all hopefulness and Americana, but the unfolding action is pure horror. Those 26 achingly brief seconds of film mark the transition from the sweet innocence of standing (wearing one’s Sunday Best pillbox hat and white gloves) respectfully along the road for a chance to wave at the President to protests, war, rioting, mistrust of one’s government and the toxic malignancy of conspiracy theories.*

I wasn’t even a twinkle in my daddy’s eye when Kennedy was assassinated. As a young person, I never quite got why a generation seemed so awed by the man and why his death affected their outlook and their lives. Now that I’ve passed the halfway point of my life, I can better appreciate the magnitude of what happened that day. It must have felt as if the comfortable, sane and stable world under their feet suddenly buckled and heaved. I can’t help but dwell on our own troubled times, the deep divide between the “right” and the “left,” the vitriol hurled back and forth, the 24-hour “news” cycle one can’t seem to escape. I hope that we don’t witness a similar shattering, unsettling and violent event – recorded by dozens of “Zapruders” on their iPhones and Samsungs – that would undoubtedly divide us even more. 

Coincidentally, Mr. Zapruder’s granddaughter just published a book called Twenty-Six Seconds: A Personal History of the Zapruder Film. Might be interesting to read about the family and how this tiny speck of a film shaped their lives. 

*To lighten the mood a little, check out the Magic Loogie bit from Seinfeld.

Lemony White Bean Potato Artichoke Orzo Soup by An Unrefined Vegan

Lemony White Bean Potato Artichoke Orzo Soup by An Unrefined Vegan

Lemony White Bean, Potato & Artichoke Soup with Orzo
Serves 4
Cold weather comfort food that sings with tart lemon flavor and warm, summery dill. Ready in under an hour.
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Cook Time
40 min
Total Time
1 hr
Cook Time
40 min
Total Time
1 hr
305 calories
60 g
0 g
2 g
16 g
0 g
564 g
1549 g
4 g
0 g
0 g
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size
564g
Servings
4
Amount Per Serving
Calories 305
Calories from Fat 13
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 2g
2%
Saturated Fat 0g
2%
Trans Fat 0g
Polyunsaturated Fat 0g
Monounsaturated Fat 0g
Cholesterol 0mg
0%
Sodium 1549mg
65%
Total Carbohydrates 60g
20%
Dietary Fiber 14g
57%
Sugars 4g
Protein 16g
Vitamin A
1%
Vitamin C
88%
Calcium
14%
Iron
27%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your Daily Values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
Ingredients
  1. 1 large onion, chopped
  2. 2 cups yellow potato cut into bite-sized cubes
  3. 6 cloves garlic, minced
  4. 1/2 15-ounce can artichoke hearts, drained and roughly chopped
  5. 1 Tbsp. dried dill weed
  6. 1 tsp. ground black pepper
  7. 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
  8. juice of 1 lemon
  9. zest of 1 lemon
  10. 2 15-ounce cans reduced/no-salt white beans + juice from 1 can*
  11. 4 cups low sodium vegetable broth
  12. 1/3 cup orzo
Instructions
  1. Saute onion over medium heat until soft. Add the potato cubes and garlic and cook for an additional 5 minutes. Stir in the artichoke hearts, dill weed, pepper, garlic, lemon, lemon zest, beans and bean water. Stir to combine, then let cook for 1-2 minutes.
  2. Pour in the vegetable broth, bring the soup to a boil, then turn down the heat so that the soup simmers gently. Cook until potatoes are soft, 20-25 minutes. Add the orzo and cook until tender.
Notes
  1. *drain and rinse 1 can of beans; do not drain the second can - you want the "aqua faba" from this can to thicken the soup.
beta
calories
305
fat
2g
protein
16g
carbs
60g
more
An Unrefined Vegan http://www.anunrefinedvegan.com/
Lemony Potato Artichoke Orzo Soup by An Unrefined VeganLemony Potato Artichoke Orzo Soup by An Unrefined VeganLemony White Bean Potato Artichoke Orzo Soup by An Unrefined Vegan

10 thoughts on “Lemony White Bean, Potato and Artichoke Soup with Orzo. Oil-free.

  1. Pingback: Lemony White Bean, Potato and Artichoke Soup with Orzo. Oil-free. | Harvey Diamond Fan Page

  2. Steve

    Very interesting post here. Thank you sincerely for having the courage to post this. I too hope we never have to live thru such an event. I am optimistic for now that we are on a good run and I hope to see it thru.

    Reply
    1. An Unrefined Vegan Post author

      Hey Steve – thanks for the comment. It feels like such an insane time right now, but maybe that’s how one feels no matter the era. I hope we can get through this rough patch and start to see some positive things happening in this country rather than all of the negative of late.

      Reply
  3. Raquel Osorio

    Awesome post. I like to say I was born in the wrong country but in the right family. I have now lived in the United States longer than I had in my birth country, Brazil. Came here for the values (was born in 1964 when the military took over), never money or prestige. I share the sorrow for Vietnam, the middle east crisis and the uncertain direction of our Country. I live in the birth place of Eleonor Roosevelt and it’s impossible to disregard Kennedy’s role in a crucial time here. I own a vegan restaurant where I might as well have signed a bankruptcy agreement. The “struggle” is real and so is our capacity to overcome obstacles and LOVE. And be grateful. Always. Much Peace and Love from Plantae, Tivoli, NY.

    Reply
    1. An Unrefined Vegan Post author

      Raquel – America is lucky to have you! Thank you for taking the time to comment and to share your perspective. I do share your belief that much can be overcome. Most of the time I stay positive and hopeful, but some days it is difficult. My best to you, Raquel, and wishing you every success.

      Reply
  4. Brittany

    Such a terrible event, I also never quite understood as a young lass, but as I get older and experience things or learn about the history I find myself feeling things. All the feelings.

    On a soup note, it looks delicious!

    Reply
  5. The Vegan 8

    Thank you so much for sharing your post Annie. I’m totally going to make this soup, I love every single ingredient you have listed and artichokes is one of my very favorite foods. I’m basically drooling looking at this soup! I hope I have enough white beans in the pantry to make this, as I go through them so fast. What a beautiful recipe!

    On a side note, your new profile pic is gorgeous, you look so beautiful!

    Reply
  6. Andrea

    Thanks for your post. And your recipe! I made this soup and it is so awesome. I have already saved it to “my favorites”. 🙂

    Reply

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