09 March 2017

Bean with Bacon Soup

Bean with Bacon Soup / www.delightfulrepast.com

When I first met Mr Delightful, back before the earth had cooled, he liked canned condensed bean with bacon soup. If I recall, it tasted okay; but I just have this "thing" about canned soups and convenience foods and stuff that isn't organic. So, naturally, I had to come up with a better bean with bacon soup.

Needless to say, even though I don't put the word "organic" in front of every ingredient in my recipes, nearly every ingredient is. But if that's not your thing, you can make it with conventional ingredients. If using conventional bacon, which has far more fat than the organic uncured bacon I use, be sure to drain off the fat. 

I know it sounds crazy to put ketchup in soup, but all I can say is it's really good. At least with the brand I use. Besides adding a touch of tomato and sweetness to the soup, it adds a little organic vinegar and spices as well. Mr Delightful, the lifelong "mmm mmm good" man, pronounced it "even better, much better."

What is your favorite soup? Do you eat it regularly, just when you're sick, only during Soup Weather, or when?

Bean with Bacon Soup / www.delightfulrepast.com

Bean with Bacon Soup

(Makes 12 servings)

4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
8 ounces organic hickory smoked uncured bacon, cut into 1/4-inch-wide slices
1 medium (8 ounces) yellow onion, chopped
3 quarts water
2 pounds navy or other small white beans
2 cups chopped celery
2 cups chopped carrots
1 to 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
1 teaspoon thyme leaves
1 teaspoon marjoram leaves
2 cups lower sodium chicken broth
3/4 cup ketchup

1 In 6-quart Dutch oven, heat olive oil and saute bacon until cooked. (You can skip the oil if you're using conventional bacon; remove all but a tablespoon or two of the fat before adding onions.) Stir in chopped onion and cook until bacon and onions are caramelizing a bit, about 20 minutes. Stir in water and beans. Bring to a boil; you can use that time to chop celery and carrots. Stir in celery and carrots, salt, pepper, thyme and marjoram. Reduce heat and simmer for 2 hours.

Note: Organic uncured bacon is so lean, there is no need to drain off the fat as there would be if using conventional bacon.

2 After 2 hours, stir in chicken broth and ketchup. Continue simmering for 1 hour or until done, adding more liquid (water or broth) if needed. With immersion blender, puree the soup a bit to thicken it, leaving most of the beans whole.

Note: Dried beans can vary a great deal in how much cooking they require. I find three hours usually works for this, but if your beans are not fully cooked at three hours just keep cooking until they are. If your beans cook faster, then at the 3-hour mark the soup may have thickened to your liking without any pureeing needed.

58 comments:

Angie's Recipes said...

Ketchup in bean soup? Now that's an interesting add. The soup does look very comforting and flavoursome, Jean.

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Thanks, Angie. I stumbled onto the ketchup accidentally when I opened the cupboard and discovered I was out of tomato paste. Oops, and out of tomato sauce as well. But I did have a bit of organic ketchup in the fridge that needed using up (I hate waste, but I don't use a lot of ketchup). So I tried it, a little at a time, and decided on the perfect amount, which amounts to a tablespoon per large serving.

http://www.thomassullivanauthor.com said...

Methinks Mr. Delightful married into a menu that comes off his time in heaven. Sounds like a good light meal. I don’t eat it often, but now and then I like to doctor up my own split pea with ham soup. It also begins with “mmm, mmm good” Campbell eponymous variety, but then I throw in huge chunk of Black Forest ham (organic) and sometimes add crackers (bad kind) with Heartsmart butter (OK, buttery spread) on them. I do this until the whole ham is consumed. Nothing like a pea soup diet for 6-8 days…

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Sully, thank you. I love split pea soup (homemade, of course) and *I* could have a split pea soup diet for 6 to 8 days, but Mr Delightful would never go for it. I don't know why!

ellen b said...

Yum, this looks real good.

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Thanks, Ellen! It's my current favorite.

Carol @Comfort Spring Station said...

I occasionally buy uncured bacon as a treat but usually avoid it as so much fat and salt. Love most bean soups and this sound yummy.

Daniela said...

This time I'm amongst the very first friend of yours to ... relish your incredible dishes which I'm always so grateful to you for, dearest Jean !

Sending hugs and ever much love to you,
and blessings, blessings of joy across the many miles

XOXO Dany

Pauline Wiles said...

I love soups but have never attempted one with bacon in. My usual soup consists of whatever veggies are in the fridge, with mushrooms for luck. I can never get enough mushrooms in my life...!
Thank you for the tip about bean cooking times.

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Carol, thank you. The Applegate Organic uncured bacon doesn't have much fat and may be lower in salt as well. Some bacon is just loaded with salt.

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Thank you, Dany. Lovely to hear from you. Wondering what bit of history I'm going to learn about on my next visit to your lovely blog.

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Pauline, I knoooow! What is it about mushrooms? They truly are something special.

Anonymous said...

This sounds absolutely delicious Jean! I'm just the same with my other half - making fresh homemade versions of the stuff he loves from cans. And homemade soup is so easy and then you know exactly what's gone into it. I'll definitely try this one out.

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Thank you, Vicky! Let me know how you like it!

Richard Sheppard said...

I'm with you on the canned soup. No thanks. It's just to easy to make it fresh. I make quite a bit of beans in our house but have not tried bean and bacon. Sounds delish!

Unknown said...

Ooh this looks delicious. I think home made soup is so much tastier than canned. This looks so wholesome and comforting. We made carrot and lentil soup yesterday which went down quite well with the kids so we should definitely try this. I'll bookmark and be back! Thanks for sharing lovely. #DreamTeam x

Mrs Shoes said...

MMMMMMMMM, this sounds yummy. I'll use our homegrown, butchered on the kitchen table, took me days to brine & days to smoke, slap yo' mama, delectable bacon. Probably doesn't count as organic, but it sure does count as delicious!!

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Thank you, Richard! Bean with Bacon Soup might not be the most photogenic of soups, but it is soooo tasty!

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Thank you, Dawn! And another great thing about a big pot of homemade soup, it prevents each child picking a different flavor canned soup to be heated up in a separate pan!

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Mrs Shoes, hat's off to a woman who makes her own bacon! :-) Keep up the good work!

Cocoa and Lavender said...

As you have probably seen from my blog, being soup has been very popular in our household, as well. I love that you use ketchup for a little bit of flavoring! My rule is, "if it tastes good, do it!"

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

David, thank you. I know some people might scorn ketchup, but when it works, it works!

Dee | GrammysGrid.com said...

Thank you for sharing this post at the #WednesdayAIM #LinkUp #BlogParty. I shared it on social media.

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Thanks, Grammy Dee! Much appreciated.

Rue said...

That looks delicious, Jean! I mostly eat soup when I'm sick, but this looks good enough to eat on a regular cold day :)

xo,
rue

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Thank you, Rue! And it freezes so beautifully in my little glass storage containers that you can always have some on hand for sick days.

Susan J Meyerott, M.S. said...

Ah, Jean, you made me laugh with your comments about Mr Delightful and canned soup. Mr Lightarted, growing up in Ohio, was a solid canned soup and Smuckers Jam fan. Growing up in a family where everything was homegrown and made from scratch I needed to turn his head away from the pre-canned and processed foods. Still a work in progress. This Bean with Bacon soup will be a hit. Tis the soup season.

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Thanks, Sue! Let me know how my soup stacks up against the can in Mr Lightarted's view! "Still a work in progress" - we never give up, do we?!

Marisa Franca @ Allourway said...

I never scoff at a person's preferred ingredient. If you say ketchup tastes good, I would try it. And it takes women like us to educate our hubbies' palates. Frankly, there is nothing like a great bean soup to satisfy the tummy. I'm saving your recipe to try. Have a great weekend.

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Thanks, Marisa. AND for the vote of confidence in my ketchup! Hope you have a great weekend as well.

Cathy, 1929 Charmer Cottage said...

I love bean soup of any kind but hubs won't eat it. I make my own ketchup but won't use store bought since it has so much sugar in its...sounds like it would provide debt of flavor..

janice15 said...

Bean and bacon soup sounds great... funny we use to eat can soup as kids so far away from that thank goodness ... Have a great weekend with love Janice

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Cathy, maybe if you pureed all the beans your hubs wouldn't know it was beans! :D I get organic ketchup because it doesn't have corn syrup like the others. Bet I'd like your homemade!

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Dear Janice, thank you. And I hope you have a great weekend, too!

kitty@ Kitty's Kozy Kitchen said...

Your soup sounds wonderful, Jean, and I know,that I would love a big bowl of it! I adore soups, and some of my favorites are Lasagna Soup, chicken noodle, and Pasta Fagiloi. Soups are such comfort foods, aren't they?

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Thanks, Kitty. Those sound good, too! I make chicken noodle a lot, but not the others. It's been too long - thanks for reminding me of them!

TONY said...

Hi Jean. I'm with Mr Delightful there. Some canned soup is good! There is a Scottish company that do Baxters Soups. They are very good. However, I am with you also, Jean, the home made variety can be the best and the most nutritious. Your bacon and bean soup sounds as though it would hit the spot!
So, now getting back to the beginning, or even the basics. It was hot and steamy when you met Mr Delightful then Jean?

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Thank you, and LOL, Tony!

Debbie-Dabble Blog and A Debbie-Dabble Christmas said...

Looks so good!!
Thanks so much for stopping by and taking the time to comment!!
HUgs,
Debbie

Polly said...

mmm this sounds delicious. A few years ago I made a lot of soup, but not recently. Baxters was mentioned earlier, I too like their soups, but my all time favourite is Heinz tomato soup :-)

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Debbie, thank you! Big hug!

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Thanks, Polly. I haven't tried either of those. Will check them out.

Tandy | Lavender and Lime (http://tandysinclair.com) said...

I always have a tin of organic soup in my pantry for the 'in case' days. But would rather make my own from scratch of course. And next time I do I shall add some ketchup to it to see if I can get the same mmm response :)

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Thank you, Tandy. I'm a big 'in case' cook myself, so I always freeze half of this as individual servings in glass containers. Makes life so much easier, doesn't it, when you're prepared for 'in case' days?!

Fran @ Gday Souffle said...

There's nothing better than a bowl of homemade soup- I stopped using those old cans of Campbell's Soup years ago. I suppose my favorite soup is Chile Relleno Soup which I just recently made. Your soup certainly looks good- all those beans would certainly improve the digestive system!

Unknown said...

Looks delicious and perfect to have over a campfire. Thanks for joining the Creative K Kids' Tasty Tuesday. I look forward to seeing what you share with us this week!

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Thanks, Fran. And I'll definitely check out that Chile Relleno Soup.

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Amanda, thank you. This week it will be a dessert!

Miz Helen said...

Your Soup looks perfect for this cold evening! Thanks so much for sharing your awesome recipe with us at Full Plate Thursday. Hope you are having a great week and come back to see us real soon!
Miz Helen

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Thank you, Miz Helen! I hope you're not having the *crazy cold* cold weather, just some nippy Soup Weather!

Swathi said...

Bean and bacon never can go wrong,delicious Soup, I can eat any day. I will love it.

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Thank you, Swathi! I'm thinking it would be really good with your missi roti!

Jessica Powell said...

Oh yum, this looks awesome! My favourite soup is tomato - it's the ultimate comfort food, I think. :)

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Thanks, Jessica. I love tomato soup, too! It can't stand alone as a meal, since it lacks protein, but with a toasted cheese sandwich, it's a comfort food meal!

Dee | GrammysGrid.com said...

How did I know you wouldn't approve of soup in a can? :) My fav is probably chicken noodle and uh oh, it's in a can although I have made it once in the Instant Pot! This version of yours sounds yummy! Thanks so much for linking up with me at #AThemedLinkup 40 for Soup Recipes, open until January 27. Shared on social media.

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Dee. count on you to give me my first laugh of the day! :D Thank you!

Dee | GrammysGrid.com said...

Hey, Jean. They say laughter makes the world go round but my fav saying is: Laughter is the best medicine!!

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

I agree, Dee!