Bean Soup Recipes Using Dry Beans

BEAN SOUP

Steps:

• Place rinsed beans into a large stock pot. Add water and bring to a boil. Boil gently for 2 minutes; remove from heat, cover and let stand for 1 hour.
• Add ham bone, cubed ham, onion, salt, pepper and bay leaves. Bring to a boil; reduce heat, cover and simmer for 1 hour and 15 minutes or until beans are soft. Occasionally skim surface of soup while it is cooking.
• Add carrots and celery, cook until tender. Remove ham bone, scrape any meat from bone and place back into soup and serve.

WHITE BEAN SOUP

Steps:

• Sort beans and rinse with cold water. Place in a Dutch oven; add water to cover by 2 in. Bring to a boil; boil for 2 minutes. Remove from the heat; cover and let stand for 1-4 hours or until beans are softened. , Drain and rinse beans, discarding liquid; set beans aside. Sprinkle chicken with 1/2 teaspoon salt. In the same pan, saute chicken in 1 tablespoon oil until no longer pink. Drain and set aside. Saute onion in remaining oil until tender. Add the carrots, celery and garlic; saute 1-2 minutes longer. , Stir in the broth, water, pepper, beans and chicken; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 1-3/4 to 2-1/4 hours or until beans are tender. Stir in parsley and remaining salt., Serve immediately or cool and freeze in a freezer container for up to 3 months. , To use frozen soup: Thaw in the refrigerator overnight. Transfer to a saucepan. Cover and cook over medium-low heat until heated through, stirring occasionally. Stir in 1/4 cup parsley and 1/2 teaspoons salt.

BASIC HAM AND BEAN SOUP

Steps:

• Rinse the beans, sorting out any broken or discolored ones. In a large pot over high heat, bring the water to a boil. Add the salt and the beans and remove from heat. Let beans sit in the hot water for at least 60 minutes.
• After the 60 minutes of soaking, return the pot to high heat and place the ham bone, carrots, celery, onion, garlic, mustard and bay leaves in the pot. Stir well, bring to a boil, reduce heat to low and simmer for 60 more minutes.
• Remove ham bone and discard. Stir in the chopped ham and simmer for 30 more minutes. Season with ground white pepper to taste.

MIXED BEAN SOUP

Steps:

• Rinse and sort beans. Place beans in a Dutch oven or soup kettle; add water to cover by 2 in. Bring to a boil; boil for 2 minutes. Remove from the heat; cover and let stand for 1 to 4 hours or until beans are softened., Drain and rinse, discarding liquid. Add water to the beans; bring to a boil. Cover and simmer for 30 minutes. Add remaining ingredients; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 1-1/2 to 2 hours or until beans are tender. Discard bay leaves.

VEGETABLE-BEAN SOUP

Steps:

• In a large pot, heat oil over medium-high. Add carrots, celery, and onion and cook until onion is translucent, about 6 minutes. Add garlic and thyme and season with salt and pepper; cook until fragrant, about 3 minutes. Add beans, tomatoes, broth, and parsley and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until vegetables are tender, 25 to 30 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Divide soup among four bowls and serve with Parmesan.

BLACK BEAN SOUP FROM DRIED BEANS

Steps:

• In a large pot,soak the beans in 2 quarts of cold water overnight, or in 2 quarts of boiling water for an hour or two.
• After soaking, or the next day, drain the beans and cover them with fresh water.
• Bring the beans to a boil over medium-high heat.
• Reduce the heat. You want the beans to simmer gently for most of the cooking process.
• Cover the pot and simmer the beans for an hour.
• Add more water, if needed, to keep the beans covered.
• Taste the beans after an hour and see if they are tender.
• If they are, then you can add the vegetables now; if not, let them cook another 30 minutes and try again.
• When the beans are perfectly tender add the vegetable oil, chopped vegetables and seasonings.
• Taste and add salt if you think it needs it.
• Put the lid back on and simmer the soup for another 30 minutes, or until the carrots are tender.
• The soup will be rich and dark with vibrant colors from the vegetables peeking through.
• When everything is tender, it's ready to serve.

DRIED BEAN SOUP MIX

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients in a plastic bag or an airtight container; store, tightly sealed, until needed.
• BASIC BEAN SOUP Combine contents of package with 7 cups water in a 3-quart saucepan. Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Cover and simmer 2 minutes.
• Remove from heat, cover, and let stand 1 hour. (Or soak bean mixture in the water overnight in a covered pan.) Do not drain.
• Bring beans and liquid to boiling, reduce heat. Cover and simmer 1-1/2 to 2 hours or until beans are tender.
• Remove bay leaf. Season to taste.
• MEATY BEAN SOUP Follow basic recipe through the soaking step. Add 1 3/4-1 pound smoked pork hock or beef shank crosscuts. Bring to boiling; reduce heat.
• Cover and simmer 1 hour for pork hocks or 1-1/2 hour for beef shanks.
• Remove meat, chop coarsely and return to soup.
• Remove bay leaf. Add 1 16-oz. can tomatoes, cut up and undrained. Add one medium carrot, chopped.
• Cover and simmer for 30 more minutes. Season to taste. Makes 4-6 servings.
• SPICY BEAN POT Follow basic recipe but reduce water to 5-1/2 cups. Remove bay leaf.
• Brown 1/2 pound ground beef and drain off fat. Add 1 teaspoons chili powder and cook 1 minute. Add to bean soup along with 1 10-oz. can Rotel.
• Heat through, stirring occasionally. Season to taste. Serve in tortilla bowls or with corn chips. Garnish with jalapenos, if desired. Makes 6-8 main-dish servings.
• CHEESY BEAN SOUP Follow basic recipe through the soaking step, except reduce water to 4 cups. Remove bay leaf. Mash beans slightly. Add 2 cups milk and 1 6-oz. link cheese food or smoked cheese food. Cook and stir until beans are soft. Makes 4-6 main dish servings.