French Quarter Bean Soup Recipes

FRENCH QUARTER BEAN SOUP

Steps:

• Rinse the beans.
• In a Dutch oven, combine the beans and enough water to cover.
• Bring to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer for 2 minutes.
• Remove from the heat.
• Cover and let stand 1 hour. (Or you could just soak the beans over night.).
• Drain.
• Add 6 cups fresh water and the ham hocks.
• Bring to a boil and reduce heat.
• Cover and simmer for 1 hour.
• Remove the ham hocks.
• When cool enough to handle, cut off the meat and chop. Discard the bones.
• Return the meat to the bean mixture.
• Add the undrained tomatoes, celery, onion, garlic, bay leaves and red pepper, then add the sliced sausage and chicken thighs.
• Bring to a boil.
• Reduce the heat, cover and simmer about 1 hour or until the chicken and beans are tender.
• Remove the chicken thighs and cool slightly.
• Remove the meat from the bones and chop.
• Discard the bones and return the meat to the soup.
• Add the parsley and remove the bay leaves.

FRENCH MARKET SOUP

Steps:

• Sort beans and rinse in cold water. Place beans in a Dutch oven; add water to cover by 2 in. Bring to a boil; boil for 2 minutes. Remove from the heat; cover and let stand for 1-4 hours or until beans are softened., Drain and rinse beans, discarding liquid; return beans to the pan. Add the ham hocks, water, salt and pepper; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 3 hours or until beans are tender., Remove ham hocks; set aside until cool enough to handle. Add the tomatoes, onions, lemon juice, garlic and chili powder to the beans. Simmer 1 hour longer., Remove ham from bones and cut into cubes; discard bones. Return ham to soup. Stir in the kielbasa, chicken, wine and parsley. Simmer for 30-40 minutes or until heated through and as thick as desired.

CREAM OF GREEN BEAN SOUP

Steps:

• Saute the green onions, shallot and garlic in the butter in a medium skillet over medium heat, stirring constantly, until tender. Set aside.
• Cook the diced potatoes in boiling water to cover for 15 minutes, or until tender (depends on how small you diced them); drain well, and set aside.
• Bring the chicken broth to a boil in a large saucepan; add green beans, and cook 30 to 35 minutes or until tender. Add the reserved green onions and potato; stir well.
• Transfer half of the green bean mixture to the container of an electric blender; cover and process until smooth, stopping once to scrape down the sides. Repeat the procedure with the remaining green bean mixture. (Sometimes I like to use my immersion blender, leaving some of the pieces whole). Return the pureed mixture to the saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat; stir in whipping cream or half and half, lemon juice, and tarragon. Cook until thoroughly heated. Serve, and sprinkle with black pepper.

FRENCH WHITE BEAN SOUP

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, heat the oil over moderate heat.
• Add the onion, fennel, carrots, salt and pepper. Saute for 5 minutes.
• Add the tomatoes, stock, basil, and fennel seeds and bring to a boil. Cover, lower the heat, and simmer for 10 minutes.
• Add the cannellini and simmer 3 minutes longer until heated through.
• Meanwhile, if using the pesto, combine the garlic, basil, parsley, cheese, and oil in a small bowl and with the back of a spoon, mash the mixture into a paste.
• Ladle the soup into bowls and garnish each one with a dollop of the pesto.

WHITE BEAN FENNEL SOUP

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, saute onion and fennel in oil until tender. Add the broth, beans, tomatoes, thyme, pepper and bay leaf; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 30 minutes or until fennel is tender. , Discard bay leaf. Add spinach; cook 3-4 minutes longer or until spinach is wilted.