Southern Bean Soup Food

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.

SOUTHERN BEAN SOUP

Steps:

• Rinse all of the peas, beans, and lentils and pick them over. Discard any malformed or damaged beans, and look for tiny stones.
• Transfer the bean mixture to a stockpot or Dutch oven. Cover with tap water to a depth of about 2 inches above the beans. Let the beans soak at room temperature overnight.
• Drain the beans and rinse them thoroughly; return them to the pan.
• Chop the ham. Peel the onion, cut it in half, and chop it finely. Peel and mince the garlic.
• Add 2 quarts of water to the bean mixture along with the ham, onion, garlic, salt, and barley; mix well.
• Place the pan over high heat and bring to boil. Reduce the heat to low to maintain a simmer.
• Cover the pan and simmer for 1 1/2 hours, or until beans are tender, stirring occasionally.

LIMA BEAN SOUP

Steps:

• In a Dutch oven or soup kettle, combine the first 12 ingredients; bring to a boil over medium heat. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 25-35 minutes or until vegetables are tender. , Add cream; heat through but do not boil. Sprinkle with bacon just before serving.

SOUTHWESTERN BEAN SOUP

Steps:

• In a Dutch oven, saute the onion in oil until tender. Stir in the remaining ingredients; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 5 minutes or until heated through.

GOOD OL' SOUTHERN SOUP BEANS FOR PRESSURE COOKER

Steps:

• Follow directions on bean bag for presoaking the beans.
• Drain and rinse beans, sit aside.
• In the pan melt butter (or bacon grease) over medium heat. Cook onions and garlic until soft and lightly brown.
• Add beans, ham hock, and water to pressure cooker. Put on lid and seal. Bring heat up to high.
• Once pressure has been reached, reduce heat to low and cook for 30 minutes.
• Remove the pressure cooker from heat and release the pressure with a quick release method. Remove the cover and test beans for doneness. If necessary cover and return the pot to pressure and cook for another 5 minutes.
• Remove the ham hock from the soup. Discard the skin and bones. Chop the remaining meat and add it back to the soup.
• Season with additional salt and pepper if necessary. Serve hot with crumbled corn bread.