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The Boat Shed Kitchen

German Green Bean Soup

This traditional German green bean soup (Grüne-Bohnen-Suppe) combines smoky bacon, tender potatoes, and sweet green beans in a flavorful broth. Blended with sour cream for creaminess and seasoned with savory herb, it's a rustic and hearty soup perfect for any season.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 4
Calories: 290
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 6 slices bacon chopped into 1-inch width
  • 1 small onion chopped thinly
  • 1.5 to 2 pounds green beans 750g to 1kg, trimmed and chopped into 1-inch length
  • 1.25 pound potatoes approx. 450g, peeled and diced
  • 3 to 4 cups stock chicken or vegetable
  • ¼ cup sour cream
  • 1.5 teaspoon savory dried
  • Salt and pepper to season

Method
 

  1. Place the bacon in a cold pan and set over medium-high heat.
  2. Cook until crisp, then add chopped onion and cook until soft.
  3. Add green beans, potatoes, savory, salt, pepper, and stock.
  4. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer until veggies are tender.
  5. Transfer one-third of the soup to a bowl and blend until smooth.
  6. Add sour cream and continue blending until creamy.
  7. See full steps with tips & photos → https://theboatshedcafe.com/german-green-bean-soup/

Notes

  • Don’t skip blending part of the soup—it gives a creamy texture while keeping some chunky bites.
  • You can swap sour cream with plain Greek yogurt for a lighter version.
  • Add a bay leaf while simmering for extra flavor (just remember to remove it before blending)