Smoky Navy Bean Soup Food

SMOKY WHITE BEAN AND HAM SOUP

Steps:

• Quick-soak the beans: Place the beans in a medium pot and cover with 2 to 3 inches of water. Bring to a boil over high heat and cook for 1 minute. Remove the pot from the heat and let sit for 1 hour. Drain in a colander.
• Place the drained beans into a 5.5-quart Dutch oven or large pot. Add the water, chicken stock, bay leaves, quartered onion, and ham hocks. Bring to a boil over high heat, then cover and simmer over low heat until the beans are just tender, about 1 hour (depending on the size of the beans, it could take a bit longer).
• Once the beans are tender, pull out the bay leaves, onion remnants, and ham hocks. Discard the bay leaves and onions, but set the ham hocks aside to cool.
• Add the minced onion, carrots, celery, tomatoes, garlic, thyme, and 2 teaspoons of salt to the pot. Increase the heat to medium and cook, uncovered, for 15 minutes. While the soup is cooking, and when the ham hocks are cool enough to handle, pull the meat from the hocks, discard any bone, fat, and tough sinew, and chop the meat finely.
• Use a ladle to transfer about 2 cups of the beans and vegetables, along with a bit of broth, to a blender or food processor. (If using a blender, be sure to remove the center knob on the lid and cover with a dishtowel to avoid splatters.) Purée until smooth, and then stir the mixture back into the soup. Add the meat and kale to the soup and simmer over medium-low heat for 5 minutes more. Taste and adjust the seasoning with more salt, if necessary (I usually add about 1 teaspoon more; beans require a lot of salt to bring out their flavor). At this point, you can serve the soup or refrigerate it for up to 3 days. (It will thicken up in the fridge; thin it with a bit of water, if necessary.)
• When you're ready to eat, garnish each bowl with a drizzle with olive oil (if using) and a heap of grated cheese.
• Freezer-Friendly Instructions: The soup can be frozen for up to 3 months. Defrost the soup in the refrigerator for 12 hours and then reheat it on the stovetop over medium heat until hot. through.

SMOKY BEAN SOUP

Steps:

• Soak the beans overnight in triple the amount of water, rinse well, and wash again.
• In a large soup pot, place vegetable stock and beans, and simmer for 1 to 1 1/2 hours, covered, until beans are tender and start to become mushy.
• Add thyme, salt, carrots, onions, celery, pepper and liquid smoke to taste, and simmer for 30 more minutes, covered, stirring several times to prevent scorching on the bottom of the pot.

NAVY BEAN SOUP

Steps:

• Place the beans in a large saucepan and cover with cold water by about 2 inches. Bring to a boil and lower the heat to a simmer. Cook for 5 minutes; remove from the heat, cover, and let sit for one hour. Drain and reserve. Tie the parsley, thyme, and bay leaf together with kitchen twine.
• In a large soup pot or Dutch oven combine the beans, herb bundle, hocks, onions, and garlic with the water. Bring to a boil, cover, and adjust the heat so the soup cooks at a gentle simmer. Cook, stirring in the carrots after 1 hour, until the beans and hock are completely tender, about 1 1/2 hours total.
• Turn off the heat and remove the hocks. Cool slightly. Remove the meat from the hocks, discarding the bones, fat, and skin. Cut the meat into small cubes. Remove the herb bundle and discard.
• Puree about 3 cups of the beans with a some of the liquid in a blender. (For a smoother soup, puree all the beans.) Stir the puree and diced meat into the soup. Heat the soup and adjust the seasoning as needed with salt and pepper.
• Pour into heated bowls, place a small pat of butter on top of each soup, and serve.

SAUSAGE AND NAVY BEAN SOUP RECIPE

Steps:

• Heat oil in large stock pot on medium-high heat. Add onions; cook and stir 5 min. or until crisp-tender. Add carrots, kale and garlic; cook 10 min. or until kale is wilted, stirring occasionally.
• Add beans, water, bay leaf and rosemary; stir. Bring to boil; simmer on medium-low heat 30 min. or until beans are tender. Add chicken broth and sausage; cook 15 min. Remove and discard bay leaf.
• Serve soup topped with cheese.

SMOKY HAM AND NAVY BEAN STEW

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients, except parsley, in crock pot.
• Mix well and cover.
• Cook on low for 10 to 12 hours.
• Just before serving stir in parsley.

CHUNKY NAVY BEAN SOUP

Steps:

• Sort, wash, and soak beans overnight.
• Drain beans.
• Add ham hock, garlic and 4 cups water.
• Bring to a boil, cover, reduce heat, and simmer for 3 hours.
• Add remaining ingredients.
• Cover and simmer for 30-40 minutes, stirring occasionally.