Magical Minestrone

Prep time:  5 minutes     |     Cooking time:  50 minutes     |     Yields:  4 people

Ingredients: 

1/2 cup lentils or azuki beans
1 inch piece kombu or wakame
1 cup carrots or winter squash, cut into chunks
4 cups water
Sea salt

Directions: 

1. Place all ingredients in a pot and bring to a boil, uncovered.
2. Turn the heat down to low and cover.
3. Cook until beans are soft. For lentils about 1 hour and beans 1 1/2 hours.

Notes: 

Add ginger, garlic or any of your favorite spices.

Soaking the beans ahead of Time reduces cooking Time to 50 minutes and enhances digestibility.