Hearty 15-Bean Soup
Hearty 15 – Bean Soup
Nothing like homemade bean soup with lots of beans! So colorful with 15 types of beans... Full of vegetables and fiber rich. Add bacon & ham for a super protein rich meal!
Vegetarian 15 – Bean Soup
Yield: 10 – 12 servings
Ingredients:
20-ounce bag 15-bean soup blend
1 large onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
4 stalks celery, diced
4 carrots, diced
6 cups vegetable broth or ham broth
1 28-ounce can tomatoes, petite diced
8 ounce can tomato sauce
2 bay leaves
1 tablespoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
1 teaspoon cumin
1 tablespoon oregano
1/2 teaspoon thyme
1⁄2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 1⁄2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
Dash or two Tabasco or Sriracha sauce
Salt and pepper to taste
1 1/2 cups chopped kale or cabbage
Optional: 4 ounces turkey or regular bacon, chopped, 6 - 8 ounces ham, chopped or cubed
Equipment needed:
4 - 6 quart soup kettle
Cutting board
Chef knife
Measuring spoons
Liquid measuring cup
Rubber or bamboo spatula
Ladle
Nothing like a hearty bowl of bean soup to satisfy your appetite on a cold day! I love this bean soup with the large variety of beans too. So colorful with the fresh vegetables and assortment of beans adds to the meal appeal of each and every bowl. The fact that it can be prepared with or without meat is also a plus! My hubby loves bean soup and this recipe especially... been making it for years with ham of course! Great way to use up leftover ham from a family dinner too. I often make my own broth by boiling down the ham bone, which adds lots of flavor. Then use the meat left on the bone in the soup too! Pretty versatile if you ask me... Vegan or not, it makes a great meal! Let’s fill that soup kettle. This will be the easiest thing you have made and be so yummy!
I love the colors in all the different types of beans in this soup. I usually purchase the Hurst’s or Essential brand bean blend package, but sometimes a local grocery store carries bulk beans. Either way, 20 ounces is what you’ll need. Begin by placing the beans in a strainer and rinsing them well to remove the dust that often is present. Use a strainer with small holes as many of the lentils are quite small and they will flow through the holes of a colander. If you want the soup to cook quicker, you can place the beans in a medium bowl and cover them with water by one inch and soak them overnight or for a few hours. This will help soften the beans and quicken the cooking process. I usually start a pot early in the day so it can simmer most of the morning for lunchtime serving. Place the drained beans in the soup kettle and add the broth. Turn heat under the pot on medium high heat.
The rest of the soup prep is adding the ingredients to the beans. Grab your cutting board and chop your onions, garlic, celery, and carrots according to the recipe. Different size and shapes of the vegetables and beans add to the meal appeal of the soup... adding color too. Add the vegetables to the beans and broth and give it a stir. Add the tomatoes, tomato sauce and seasonings. Stir well. Stir the pot and turn up the heat. Bring the soup to a boil and then reduce to a simmer. Simmer for 2 – 2 1⁄2 hours or until beans are softened. Some of the larger beans should still have a slight bite and texture, as the smaller ones cook quicker and will fall apart if cooked too long.
The smell is heavenly and it looks so pretty. Take a taste, being careful not to burn your mouth, and adjust the seasoning as desired. Beans have a tendency to require a bit more salt... your preference. The heat factor is also personal preference. Add a bit more tabasco or cayenne if you prefer a spicier flavor. Ladle up a bowl... Enjoy!!
Alternate Version:
To create a non-vegetarian, meatier version of this soup, use ham-flavored broth or leftover broth from boiling meat. Add 4 - 5 slices of bacon, regular or turkey for flavor and 6 - 8 ounces of diced ham. Ham & bacon can be added at the end of cooking or during the last 30 minutes. Adding earlier allows the ham flavor to permeate the soup as it simmers. My hubby’s favorite is with ham of course... either way makes a great meal! Enjoy!!