Not Quite Senate Bean Soup Recipes

SENATE BEAN SOUP (THE OFFICIAL RECIPE)

Steps:

• Rinse the navy beans and pick over. Place beans into large pot with two quarts of cold water and the ham hock. Bring just to a boil, then lower to a simmer and cook for approximately three hours in a partially-covered pot, stirring occasionally, until the beans have fully softened.
• Remove ham hocks and set aside to cool. Meanwhile, lightly brown the onion in butter and add to the soup. Pull meat from the ham hocks and return to soup. Stir. Before serving, bring to a boil and season with salt and pepper.

U.S. SENATE BEAN SOUP

Steps:

• Rinse and sort beans. Place beans in a Dutch oven or soup kettle; 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 to 4 hours or until beans are softened., Drain and rinse, discarding liquid. In a large Dutch oven or soup kettle, place the beans, ham bone or hocks and 3 quarts water. Bring to boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 2 hours., Skim fat if necessary. Add the onions, garlic, celery, parsley, potatoes, salt and pepper; simmer 1 hour longer., Set aside ham bones until cool enough to handle. Remove meat from bones; discard bones. Cut meat into bite-sized pieces and return to Dutch oven. Heat through. Sprinkle with parsley or chives.

SENATE BEAN SOUP

Steps:

• Put the beans in a large bowl and cover with about 3 times their volume of cold water. Soak overnight in a cool place.
• Drain the beans and transfer to a large pot or Dutch oven. Add 10 cups water and the ham. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, then reduce the heat to low and cook until the beans are tender, about 1 hour, 30 minutes. Transfer the ham to a plate to cool slightly, then remove the bone, if used, and dice the meat. Return the meat to the pot.
• Meanwhile, cover the potato with water in a saucepan and season with salt. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce the heat and simmer until the potato is fork-tender, 20 to 25 minutes. Drain the potato; transfer to a bowl with the milk and mash with a potato masher or fork until smooth. Add the mashed potato to the bean soup and stir until combined.
• Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion, celery, garlic and parsley and cook until the vegetables are translucent, 7 to 10 minutes. Add the vegetable mixture to the soup, reduce the heat to low and cook 1 hour, adding up to 2 more cups water if the soup is too thick. Season with salt and pepper.

SENATE BEAN SOUP

Steps:

• In a large pot or Dutch oven, soak beans overnight in 6 cups of water (or bring to a boil, boil 3 minutes, remove from heat, and let stand, covered, for 1 hour).
• Add remaining 4 cups of water, the ham hock, bay leaf, and pepper; bring to a boil.
• Reduce heat, cover and simmer for 1 1/4 hours or until beans are almost tender.
• Stir in remaining ingredients; cover; cook 20-30 minutes more or until beans are tender.
• Discard bay leaf before serving soup.

SENATE BEAN SOUP

Steps:

• Wash and sort beans; in large kettle, cover beans with 6-8 c hot water.
• Bring to a boil; boil 2 minutes; remove from heat, cover, and let stand for 1 hour.
• Add another 2 quarts of cold water and ham bone.
• Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer 1 1/2 hours.
• Stir in remaining ingredients; simmer 20-30 minutes until beans are tender.
• Remove ham bone, trim off meat and return meat to soup; remove bay leaf.
• Serve hot; freezes well.