Hearty White Bean Soup

Soups & Stews

Recipe courtesy of Susan Ford, Louisiana Kitchen & Culture

Serves 10

Ingredients: 
  • 4 slices bacon, cut into 1/2" pieces
  • 1 cup yellow onions, diced small
  • 1/2 cup celery, diced small
  • 1/2 cup green pepper, diced small
  • 1 tablespoon garlic, minced
  • 1/2 pound ham, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
  • 1/2 pound smoked sausage, cut crosswise into 1/4-inch slices
  • 2 cans white beans, drained, liquid reserved
  • 1 can black beans, drained, liquid reserved
  • 6 cups low sodium chicken broth
  • 1 can Rotel tomatoes
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • cayenne pepper to taste
  • salt to taste
  • hot sauce to pass at the table

Hearty White Bean Soup With Ham and Tasso

 Hearty White Bean Soup With Ham and Tasso

Click image to enlarge

Method: 

Heat the oil in a cast iron dutch oven over medium heat. Add the bacon and cook, stirring often, until it begins to render fat. Add the onions, celery, green pepper, garlic, ham, sausage, and cook, stirring, until the onions are soft and lightly golden, 10 minutes.

Add the beans, chicken broth, tomatoes, and cumin. Stir to blend. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, uncovered, for about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Taste for seasoning; be aware that the canned ingredients and the meat are salty to begin with, and the tomatoes and sausage contain hot pepper.

Season to taste with salt, black and cayenne peppers.

This soup is delicious and goes nicely with Susan's Jalapeno & Cheddar Cornbread served on the side

Slow-cook or Crock pot alternative: Soak 1 pound of beans (mixture of your choice) overnight in water to cover. Proceed as described above up until it's time to add the beans; transfer cooked meat and sautéed vegetables to a crock pot, add all other ingredients but salt, pepper, and cayenne, and cook over low heat for 6  hours. Taste for seasonings and add salt, pepper, and cayenne to taste; cook for 2 more hours or until beans are tender.  

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Comments

<p>If you substitute Pinto beans with MORE bacon,&nbsp;and&nbsp;lime to taste &nbsp;it makes a mean "Charro or cowboy bean soup" instead</p>