Real Simple Bean and Bacon Soup

Name: Real Simple Bean and Bacon Soup
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 35 min
Yield: 6 serving(s)
Ingredients: 8 slices bacon; 1 large carrot, chopped (about 3/4 cup); 2 stalks celery, chopped (about 1 cup); 1 medium onion, chopped (about 1 cup); 4 garlic cloves, chopped; 2 (15 1/2 ounce) cans great northern beans, drained; 2 cups water; 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped; 1 1/4 teaspoons kosher salt; 1/2 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper

Submitted by Ms B.

"From the February 2005 issue of Real Simple magazine. This is a quick comfort food for cold days. You can substitute lima, cannellini, or borlotti beans for the great Northern beans in this recipe."

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photo by Ms B.

Ready In:: 35mins
Ingredients:: 10
Serves:: 6

ingredients

8 slices bacon
1 large carrot, chopped (about 3/4 cup)
2 stalks celery, chopped (about 1 cup)
1 medium onion, chopped (about 1 cup)
4 garlic cloves, chopped
2 (15 1/2 ounce) cans great northern beans, drained
2 cups water
2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
1 ¹⁄₄ teaspoons kosher salt
¹⁄₂ teaspoon fresh ground black pepper

directions

In a large Dutch oven or saucepan, fry the bacon until crisp.
Remove and drain on paper towels.
Let cool, chop and set aside.
Over medium heat, add the carrot to the pan drippings in the Dutch oven and sauté for 5 minutes.
Add the celery, onion, and garlic, stirring well and cooking for 3 minutes more.
Add the beans and 2 cups of water.
Bring to a boil, cover, and reduce heat to low.
Let simmer for 10 minutes.
Uncover and, with a potato masher or large slotted spoon, partially mash the bean mixture until it thickens slightly.
Stir in the parsley, salt, pepper and bacon.
Serve hot.

Questions & Replies

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Reviews

Super simple and easy but so good! I added more garlic and bacon but otherwise I stuck to the recipe. I added a few dashes of hot sauce in my own bowl (my little girl doesn't do spicy) and it was amazing! Thanks!

violetsareblue
Delicious! I served this with cornbread.

Jazz Lover
Used peppered bacon, and dry red beans I pre cooked. I also used the stock from par-boiling country style pork ribs the day before instead of water. This soup is great and easy to make. It got better the next day and better still a few days later.

Nancy C.
Yum, Yum! I love beans, and hence loved this soup! I made a few changes, using dried beans I cooked in a pressure cooker, using 4 cups of chicken broth instead of water, and then adding 4-5 TBS of potato flakes. Delish!

Fit2bthaifan
This was very good. A nice, easy alternative to traditional bean soup. You might want to wait on adding salt till the end. I suspected that the bacon might make it pretty salty so I left the salt out and then tasted it after it simmered a while and felt like it only needed a pinch.

cincy matt

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Tweaks

Yum, Yum! I love beans, and hence loved this soup! I made a few changes, using dried beans I cooked in a pressure cooker, using 4 cups of chicken broth instead of water, and then adding 4-5 TBS of potato flakes. Delish!

Fit2bthaifan
We enjoyed this soup though the recipe was modified. Due to a kitchen emergency I had to refrigerate the ingredients and start over later. Used olive oil instead of bacon drippings to saute veggies. Also, used green pepper instead of celery. Yummy, stick to the ribs - great lunch!

Mrs. Sherm
Very easy and pretty quick. Yummy hearty soup for a weeknight meal. Instead of water I used beef broth and left out the salt. Great served with a grilled cheese sandwich. Thanks for the recipe and I'll definitely be making this again.

NeverEnoughTime