U.S. Senate Bean Soup

U.S. Senate Bean Soup is a hearty and flavorful dish that features a combination of ham, beans, and celery. This soup is perfect for enjoying a comforting meal throughout the year. For added convenience, you can freeze the bone from a holiday ham until you’re ready to make the soup, making it a great option for a make-ahead supper. With its rich and satisfying flavors, U.S. Senate Bean Soup is sure to please your taste buds.

This recipe requires 30 minutes of preparation time, 3¾ hours of cooking time, and additional time for cooling. It yields 8-10 servings or approximately 2½ quarts of soup. The soup begins with rinsing and sorting dried great northern beans, which are then boiled for a short time before being soaked for 1 to 4 hours to soften. After draining and rinsing the beans, they are combined with a meaty ham bone or smoked ham hocks and simmered in water for 2 hours. Onions, garlic, celery, parsley, mashed potatoes or instant potato flakes, salt, and pepper are added to the pot and simmered for an additional hour. The ham is removed from the bones, cut into bite-size pieces, and returned to the soup to heat through. The soup is garnished with minced parsley or chives before serving.

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 pound dried great northern beans
• 1 meaty ham bone or 2 smoked ham hocks
• 3 medium onions, chopped
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 3 celery ribs, chopped
• ¼ cup minced fresh parsley
• 1 cup mashed potatoes or ⅓ cup instant potato flakes
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Minced parsley or chives (for garnish)

PREPARATION:

1. Rinse and sort the great northern beans. Place them in a Dutch oven or stockpot and add enough water to cover them by 2 inches. Bring to a boil and boil for 2 minutes. Remove from heat, cover, and let the beans stand for 1 to 4 hours, or until softened.
2. Drain and rinse the beans, discarding the soaking liquid. In a large Dutch oven or stockpot, combine the beans, ham bone or ham hocks, and 3 quarts of water. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 2 hours.
3. Skim off any fat if necessary. Add the chopped onions, minced garlic, chopped celery, minced parsley, mashed potatoes or instant potato flakes, salt, and pepper to the pot. Simmer for an additional 1 hour.
4. Set aside the ham bone or hocks until they are cool enough to handle. Remove the meat from the bones, discard the bones, and cut the meat into bite-size pieces. Return the meat to the Dutch oven and heat through. Sprinkle the soup with minced parsley or chives before serving.

YIELD: 8-10 servings (approximately 2½ quarts of soup)

PREP TIME: 30 minutes

COOK TIME: 3¾ hours

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS:

• Ensure that the dried great northern beans are sorted and rinsed before cooking.
• Skim off any fat from the soup if necessary to achieve the desired consistency.
• Adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper to suit your taste preference.

TIPS:

• Consider using leftover ham or ham bone from a holiday meal to enhance the flavor of the soup.
• Serve the U.S. Senate Bean Soup with a side of crusty bread for a complete and satisfying meal.
• This soup freezes well, allowing you to enjoy it as a make-ahead supper or for future meals.

U.S. Senate Bean Soup is a delicious and hearty dish that combines ham, beans, and celery to create a satisfying meal. This soup is enjoyed throughout the year and can be conveniently prepared ahead of time, making it a great option for busy schedules. With its rich flavors and comforting qualities, U.S. Senate Bean Soup is sure to please your palate.

Preparing this soup involves rinsing and sorting dried great northern beans, boiling them briefly, and then soaking them to soften. The beans are combined with a meaty ham bone or smoked ham hocks and simmered for several hours until tender. Onions, garlic, celery, parsley, mashed potatoes or instant potato flakes, salt, and pepper are added to the pot to enhance the flavor. The ham is removed from the bones, cut into bite-size pieces, and returned to the soup to heat through. Before serving, the soup is garnished with minced parsley or chives for added freshness.

This recipe yields 8-10 servings, making it suitable for larger gatherings or for enjoying leftovers. It can be served as a satisfying meal on its own or paired with a side of crusty bread for a complete dining experience. U.S. Senate Bean Soup also freezes well, allowing you to prepare it ahead of time and enjoy it as a convenient make-ahead supper.

In conclusion, U.S. Senate Bean Soup is a delicious and versatile dish that brings together the flavors of ham, beans, and celery. Whether enjoyed as a main course or served as a side, this soup offers a comforting and flavorful meal that will keep you coming back for more.