15 Bean Soup

Makes 8 - 10 servings

Ingredients

1 bag of HamBeens® 15 BEAN SOUP®, with season packet
~1 lb Stoysich® Smoked Ham Hock
4 cups vegetable broth
3 cups water
1 tablespoon Planters® Peanut Oil
1 cup white onion, diced
3 carrots, peeled and diced
3 celery stocks, diced
3 cloves garlic, finely minced
1 can (14.5 oz) Muir Glen® Fire Roasted Diced Tomatoes
1 tablespoon Cajun Power® Cajun Seasoning
1 tablespoon Bourbon Barrel® Smoked Paprika
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon dried oregano
2 bay leaves
1/2 teaspoon Wright’s® Hickory Liquid Smoke
2 teaspoons Pointershire Sauce (worcestershire sauce)
Bourbon Barrel Foods® Smoked Salt and Pepper, to taste

Directions

night before
Rinse the beans and check for and discard any debris. Place beans in a pot or large bowl, cover beans with water at least 2 inches and let soak overnight (at least 8 hours).

cook beans
In a large 8 - 9 quart dutch oven or large stock pot over medium high heat, add the peanut oil. Add the onion, celery and carrot. Cook the vegetable mix until the onions are soft, ~10 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for another minute.

Add the cajun seasoning, smoked paprika, thyme, oregano and stir. Cook for another minute.

Drain the beans of the water they soaked in overnight and add the beans to the dutch oven. Add the canned tomatoes and stir and cook for another minute.

Add the broth and water, worcestershire and liquid smoke. Add a couple healthy pinches of salt and some pepper. Add the ham hock and bay leaves. Stir to combine.

Bring to a boil and then reduce the heat and simmer covered for 1 1/2 to 2 hours, stirring occasionally.

Soup is ready when the beans are cooked, but not too mushy. You want them to have some bite. Find the ham hock and remove all meat from the bone and return the ham back into the soup and discard the bone. Find and remove the bay leaves and discard. Add the season packet and mix in.

Taste for seasoning, salt and pepper to taste and adjust any seasoning you wish.

Serve in a large bowl over white rice, with a side of Arva® Beer Bread or plain. Anyway this is served, bean soup is always good.

Notes

• If you are using Hurst Beans® 15 Bean Soup, there is a seasoning packet included with the beans. You'll want to add that one to two minutes before your cooking is complete.
• This soup freezes well. Any leftover soup can be frozen for later.

I DO NOT get any compensation, free stuff or acknowledgment for mentioning, using or linking to any specific products mentioned. They are for my reference only. Any product or ingredient in the recipe can be substituted with what you have available, a regional favorite or what you find delicious.

Credits
- Original inspiration: https://hurstbeans.com/recipes/traditional-15-bean-soup