Congressional Bean Soup Grandmas Recipes

U.S. SENATE 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. In a large Dutch oven or soup kettle, place the beans, ham bone or hocks and 3 quarts water. Bring to boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 2 hours., Skim fat if necessary. Add the onions, garlic, celery, parsley, potatoes, salt and pepper; simmer 1 hour longer., Set aside ham bones until cool enough to handle. Remove meat from bones; discard bones. Cut meat into bite-sized pieces and return to Dutch oven. Heat through. Sprinkle with parsley or chives.

GRANDMA B'S BEAN SOUP

Steps:

• Place the beans in a slow cooker with enough water to cover, and soak 6 to 8 hours, or overnight.
• Drain the beans, and return to the slow cooker. Cover with water, and mix in the carrots, potatoes, celery, onion, and ham.
• Cover slow cooker, and cook soup on High for 3 1/2 hours. Switch to Low, and continue cooking at least 6 1/2 hours. The longer it cooks the more flavorful it becomes.

GRANDMA'S WHITE BEAN SOUP (THE BEST)

Steps:

• Cut pork into 2-inch cubes. Slice one of the onions into rings and place directly on top of the pork. Press down on the onions lightly to squeeze out some of their juice. Place in the fridge to marinate overnight.
• Take the pork out of the refrigerator. Remove the onions and throw them away. In an oiled soup pot over medium heat, sear the sides of the pork until they brown.
• Add the diced onions and sliced carrots. Sauté until the veggies turn golden brown.
• Add the white beans, bay leaves and boiled water. Lower the heat to a simmer and cook for an hour and a half. Season with salt and pepper. Note: You may need to add more water, as the beans tend to absorb liquid.
• Remove the soup from heat. Garnish with fresh dill and enjoy!

SENATE BEAN SOUP (THE OFFICIAL RECIPE)

Steps:

• Rinse the navy beans and pick over. Place beans into large pot with two quarts of cold water and the ham hock. Bring just to a boil, then lower to a simmer and cook for approximately three hours in a partially-covered pot, stirring occasionally, until the beans have fully softened.
• Remove ham hocks and set aside to cool. Meanwhile, lightly brown the onion in butter and add to the soup. Pull meat from the ham hocks and return to soup. Stir. Before serving, bring to a boil and season with salt and pepper.

SENATE BEAN SOUP

Steps:

• Put the beans in a large bowl and cover with about 3 times their volume of cold water. Soak overnight in a cool place.
• Drain the beans and transfer to a large pot or Dutch oven. Add 10 cups water and the ham. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, then reduce the heat to low and cook until the beans are tender, about 1 hour, 30 minutes. Transfer the ham to a plate to cool slightly, then remove the bone, if used, and dice the meat. Return the meat to the pot.
• Meanwhile, cover the potato with water in a saucepan and season with salt. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce the heat and simmer until the potato is fork-tender, 20 to 25 minutes. Drain the potato; transfer to a bowl with the milk and mash with a potato masher or fork until smooth. Add the mashed potato to the bean soup and stir until combined.
• Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion, celery, garlic and parsley and cook until the vegetables are translucent, 7 to 10 minutes. Add the vegetable mixture to the soup, reduce the heat to low and cook 1 hour, adding up to 2 more cups water if the soup is too thick. Season with salt and pepper.

GRANDMA'S GREEN BEAN CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Make green beans: Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Stir in flour until smooth, and cook for 1 minute. Stir in sour cream, onion, salt, and sugar. Add green beans, and stir to coat. Transfer mixture to a 2 1/2-quart casserole dish.
• Spread Cheddar cheese over green bean mixture. Toss cracker crumbs and melted butter together in a small bowl; sprinkle over bean mixture.
• Bake in the preheated oven until topping is golden and cheese is bubbly, about 30 minutes.

SENATE BEAN SOUP

Steps:

• In 4-quart Dutch oven, heat beans and water to boiling. Boil uncovered 2 minutes; remove from heat. Cover and let stand 1 hour.
• Add ham bone. Heat to boiling; reduce heat. Cover and simmer about 2 hours or until beans are tender.
• Stir in remaining ingredients. Cover and simmer 1 hour.
• Remove ham bone; let stand until cool enough to handle. Remove ham from bone. Remove excess fat from ham; cut ham into 1/2-inch pieces. Stir ham into soup.

THE FAMOUS SENATE RESTAURANT BEAN SOUP

Steps:

• Take two pounds of small Michigan navy beans, wash and run through hot water until beans are white again.
• Put on the fire with four quarts of hot water.
• Then add smoked ham hocks, boil slowly approximately 3 hours in covered pot.
• Braise one chopped onion in a little butter, and when light brown put it into the soup.
• Season with salt and pepper then serve.
• Do not add salt until ready to serve.

SENATE NAVY BEAN SOUP

Steps:

• Wash beans, drain then soak in large pot.
• For quick soak method combine beans & 6 cups water. Heat to boiling; boil 2 minutes. Remove from heat. Cover, let stand 1 hour OR.
• Soak beans overnight.
• In large frypan melt butter, saute celery, onion and garlic until tender.
• Drain beans, reserve liquid.
• Into saucepan add beans, reserved liquid and enough water to make 10 cups, ham bone or hock, salt and pepper plus saute veggies from frypan.
• Heat to boiling, reduce to low.
• Cover and simmer 3 hours or until beans are tender and soup thickens.
• Remove meat from bone and add to soup.
• Remove a cup or two of beans, mash and return to make a thicker soup if desired.