Smoky Bean Soup Recipes

SMOKY WHITE BEAN AND HAM SOUP

Steps:

• Quick-soak the beans: Place the beans in a medium pot and cover with 2 to 3 inches of water. Bring to a boil over high heat and cook for 1 minute. Remove the pot from the heat and let sit for 1 hour. Drain in a colander.
• Place the drained beans into a 5.5-quart Dutch oven or large pot. Add the water, chicken stock, bay leaves, quartered onion, and ham hocks. Bring to a boil over high heat, then cover and simmer over low heat until the beans are just tender, about 1 hour (depending on the size of the beans, it could take a bit longer).
• Once the beans are tender, pull out the bay leaves, onion remnants, and ham hocks. Discard the bay leaves and onions, but set the ham hocks aside to cool.
• Add the minced onion, carrots, celery, tomatoes, garlic, thyme, and 2 teaspoons of salt to the pot. Increase the heat to medium and cook, uncovered, for 15 minutes. While the soup is cooking, and when the ham hocks are cool enough to handle, pull the meat from the hocks, discard any bone, fat, and tough sinew, and chop the meat finely.
• Use a ladle to transfer about 2 cups of the beans and vegetables, along with a bit of broth, to a blender or food processor. (If using a blender, be sure to remove the center knob on the lid and cover with a dishtowel to avoid splatters.) Purée until smooth, and then stir the mixture back into the soup. Add the meat and kale to the soup and simmer over medium-low heat for 5 minutes more. Taste and adjust the seasoning with more salt, if necessary (I usually add about 1 teaspoon more; beans require a lot of salt to bring out their flavor). At this point, you can serve the soup or refrigerate it for up to 3 days. (It will thicken up in the fridge; thin it with a bit of water, if necessary.)
• When you're ready to eat, garnish each bowl with a drizzle with olive oil (if using) and a heap of grated cheese.
• Freezer-Friendly Instructions: The soup can be frozen for up to 3 months. Defrost the soup in the refrigerator for 12 hours and then reheat it on the stovetop over medium heat until hot. through.

SMOKY BEAN SOUP

Steps:

• Soak the beans overnight in triple the amount of water, rinse well, and wash again.
• In a large soup pot, place vegetable stock and beans, and simmer for 1 to 1 1/2 hours, covered, until beans are tender and start to become mushy.
• Add thyme, salt, carrots, onions, celery, pepper and liquid smoke to taste, and simmer for 30 more minutes, covered, stirring several times to prevent scorching on the bottom of the pot.

SMOKY BLACK-BEAN SOUP WITH SAUSAGE

Steps:

• Heat oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high; add sausage and cook, stirring, until crisp, about 3 minutes. Transfer to a plate. Add scallions, celery, and thyme to pan; cook until tender, about 4 minutes. Stir in tomatoes; bring to a boil and cook 3 minutes. Drain and rinse one can of beans, leaving the second in its liquid; add both to pan with 1 cup water.
• Return to a boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer 15 minutes. If desired, remove 1 cup of mixture and purée in a blender or food processor until smooth, about 15 seconds, then return to pan. Season with salt and pepper.
• Top each serving with cooked sausage, a dollop of sour cream, and a small handful of watercress. Sprinkle with pepper and celery leaves; serve.