11/28/2025
Thanksgiving is over and winter is creeping in. Itβs time to adjust ourselves and our kitchens.
Winter in Chinese medicine carries yin qualities: cold, damp, and inactivity. Itβs a season that naturally asks us to slow down, stay warm, and replenish our energy, and conserve our strength.
Slow-cooked meals β stews, beans, hearty soups β gently support both the Kidney and Spleen systems. They offer warmth, steadiness, and nourishment without demanding much of us.
Try this recipe for a hearty White Bean and Kale Minestrone which is very supportive of the Kidney system. Good for the crock pot and Chinese Medicine appropriate.
Prep time: 30 minutes
Makes 3 to 4 servings
5 to 6 leaves of kale
2 large cloves of garlic
3 cups cooked white beans, divided into two equal parts
2 Β½ cups vegetable or chicken stock, divided into equal parts
1 Tbs tomato paste
4 fresh sage leaves
1 tsp sea salt
Freshly ground pepper
1 Tbs fresh lemon juice
Wash kale and remove the stems from the leaves. Roll up kale leaves and cut into thin ribbons. Set aside. In a 4 quart pot, heat oil and sautΓ© the garlic briefly over medium heat. Add about half of the cooked beans and half of the stock. Puree the rest of the beans and stock in a blender along with the tomato paste and sage. Stir the pureed beans into the soup. Add salt
and pepper to taste. Mix the kale into the soup and simmer until it has wilted (about 10 minutes). Add the lemon juice and enough water to make the soup a desirable thick
consistency. Taste and adjust seasonings.
Enjoy!
