Description
Hearty bean with bacon soup delivers comfort from the heartland of Midwestern kitchens, blending smoky pork and creamy legumes into a soul-warming classic. Rich layers of flavor invite you to savor each spoonful of this rustic, nourishing meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 6 slices bacon, diced
- 3 cups cooked navy beans (or 2 cans, drained and rinsed)
- 4 cups chicken broth
Vegetables:
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2 carrots, diced
- 2 celery stalks, diced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
Seasonings and Additional Ingredients:
- 1 (8 ounces / 227 grams) can tomato sauce
- 1 cup water (or more for desired consistency)
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 bay leaf
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Fresh parsley, chopped (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- Transform crispy bacon into golden, crackling bits by rendering its fat in a spacious pot over medium-high temperature, creating a flavorful foundation for the soup.
- Utilize the aromatic bacon drippings to sauté a trio of diced vegetables – onions, carrots, and celery – until they soften and release their earthy essence, then introduce minced garlic for a brief moment to awaken its pungent notes.
- Integrate navy beans, rich chicken broth, supplemental water, tangy tomato sauce, smoky paprika, fragrant thyme, and a solitary bay leaf into the vegetable-laden pot, escalating the heat to encourage a gentle, bubbling simmer.
- Reduce the thermal intensity, seal the pot with a snug lid, and allow the ingredients to harmonize their flavors through a leisurely 20-minute dance of culinary alchemy.
- For those desiring a velvety consistency, extract approximately two cups of the soup and transform it into a silky puree, then reincorporate the smooth mixture back into the original pot.
- Reunite the previously reserved bacon pieces with the soup, reserving a select few for a dramatic garnish, and calibrate the seasoning with judicious pinches of salt and pepper.
- Artfully ladle the steaming soup into waiting bowls, crown with crisp bacon fragments and a delicate sprinkle of fresh parsley, accompanied by a robust slice of crusty bread to complete this rustic culinary experience.
Notes
- Choose thick-cut bacon for maximum flavor and crispiness, ensuring each bite delivers a rich, smoky essence to the soup.
- Drain excess bacon fat if you prefer a lighter version, but keep enough to sauté vegetables and develop deep, robust flavors.
- Experiment with different bean varieties like Great Northern or cannellini for unique textures and subtle taste variations.
- For a vegetarian adaptation, replace bacon with smoked tempeh or mushrooms and use vegetable broth to maintain a similar umami profile.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 8 g
- Protein: 12 g
- Cholesterol: 20 mg