I was gonna to call this "The Ultimate 15 Bean and Veggie Soup" but imagine my delight when I found a bag of 16 bean soup mix!?
I love beans! It started when I was a child and I would visit my favorite neighbor/other mother. Homemade refried beans are heaven! I could eat beans for or with Every. Single. Meal!
Let's make some freaking soup!
Let's make some freaking soup!
Ingredients:
Veggies and Aromatics
-4 medium carrots sliced into ¼ inch rounds
-1 small green bell pepper chopped
-1 small red bell pepper chopped
-½ a white or yellow onion
-1 small jalapeno cut into 1/8 inch rounds (optional)
-2 large cloves garlic roughly chopped
-2 large tomatoes chopped-I use fresh tomatoes in the summer when tomatoes are at the farmers market (optional)
-Corn cut off 2 ears of corn (optional) this will make it noticeably sweeter
Beans and Legumes
-13, 15 or 16 Bean Soup Mix or your favorite dry bean combo (16oz)
-1 cup Lentils (any color)
Seasoning
-Pink Salt and pepper to taste
-1 TBLS chili powder
-1 tsp cumin
-1 tsp smoked paprika
-1 tsp garlic powder
Meat
-1 lb of spicy Italian sausage in bulk (optional) making meatballs ya'll
-3 slices bacon (optional)
Other
-1 can-28 oz-whole tomatoes (squish them in your hands or cut down with knife) Only use ½ the can if you added the fresh tomatoes
-1 can-15 oz-tomato sauce
-2 cups broth (veggie or chicken) homemade or Pacific Brand Organic Broth
-2 TBLS Apple Cider Vinegar
-2 TBLS bacon grease or Olive Oil
Garnish
-1 drop Young Living Lime Essential Oil
-A Splash of your favorite Hot Sauce
OR
-1 TBLS chives cut into small pieces with scissors
-1 tsp grated parmesan cheese per bowl
OR
-1 TBLS sour cream
-1 drop Young Living Lemon Essential Oil
OR
-A couple dashes of Hot Sauce, a TBLS of sour cream and some chopped cilantro
OR
-Crispy bacon
-Sprinkle of parmesan cheese
OR
-Whatever you little heart desires
Total Cook Time: 3 hours
-When you get your bean mix home, please throw away the “Ham Seasoning” packet if there is one because EW!
-You will need to soak your beans for 6-8 hours (do not include the lentils). Overnight works. Before soaking make sure to rinse them in a fine mesh strainer and do a quick search for rocks. Rarely will you find one but just in case I recommend never skipping this step!
-Drain and rinse beans and put then in your pot (no Lentils yet). Add broth then enough water so it is about 2 inches over the beans. Turn the heat to high until you see a slight boil then reduce to low for simmering. Remember to stir your beans often and add water or more liquid as needed. Let the 3 hour countdown to bean town begin!
-Let simmer for an hour.
-Cut your bacon with scissors into 1-inch chunks and cook in your frying pan until you just start to see a bit of color. Throw bacon in the pot with your beans reserving bacon grease.
-Cut your carrots, green/red bell peppers and onion. Heat your frying pan to medium high with a TBLS of bacon fat or olive oil. You can use the fat from the bacon if you used it. Cook them for 8-10 minutes. You want to see a good amount of color.
-Just as you finish the veggies throw in the jalapeno and garlic for a minute or so until you smell the garlic.
-Add to your pot of beans. Add your corn and fresh tomatoes to the pot if you are using them.
-Add your cans of whole tomatoes and tomato sauce.
-Add your seasoning.
-Stir well.
-Wait until the 2 ½ hour mark and add your Lentils.
-Add your Apple Cider Vinegar. Your beans need a touch of brightness. If ACV is not your jam, then sub a squeeze or 3 of lime or lemon juice.
-If you are including Hot Italian Sausage then you need to roll your mixture into meatballs. I like them in smaller bite sizes. Fry those off to serve with beans. You can throw this in the beans or do what I did. I put 4-5 meatballs in the bottom of each bowl and spooned beans over the top then garnished. Refrigerate remaining meatballs and serve with white rice and green beans the next night. You could also freeze them to have for whenever you need meatballs.
-Serve with a big slice of crusty bread. Want to take that bread to a fancier place? Take your slices of bread and throw them in a 425 degree oven for 6-8 minutes until a bit toasty. Grab a garlic clove and “grate” it on your slices of bread! It is the easiest way to make garlic bread!
This recipe freezes great! I made it 3 weeks ago and am still thawing batches and eating them for lunch! Freeze in your favorite plastic or glass storage containers. Some people freeze soups, sauces and stews in freezer bags and stack them flat or like books.
This recipe freezes great! I made it 3 weeks ago and am still thawing batches and eating them for lunch! Freeze in your favorite plastic or glass storage containers. Some people freeze soups, sauces and stews in freezer bags and stack them flat or like books.Since my body occasionally is like DID YOU JUST EAT BEANS? I always take a capsule with DiGize before devouring a big ole bowl. DiGize is an essential oil blend from Young Living that supports digestive health!
Did you know the average human farts 14 times a day? #beans
If you want to know more about essential oils you hippie, click here!
Thank you for checking out my recipe! If you have any questions or comments, let me know below or email me at dsomersyl@gmail.com
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