Description
Quick comfort meets nostalgic flavor in this hearty bean with bacon soup crafted with smoky depths. Crispy bacon bits and creamy beans create a rustic meal perfect for chilly evenings you’ll savor to the last spoonful.
Ingredients
Scale
- 6 slices bacon, diced
- 3 cups (710 ml) cooked navy beans (or 2 cans, drained and rinsed)
- 4 cups (950 ml) chicken broth
- 1 (8 oz / 227 g) can tomato sauce
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2 carrots, diced
- 2 celery stalks, diced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 cup (240 ml) water (or more for desired consistency)
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- ½ tsp dried thyme
- 1 bay leaf
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Fresh parsley, chopped (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- Bacon Preparation: Render bacon in a large pot over medium-high heat until crisp and golden, creating a rich, flavorful base while generating aromatic drippings.
- Vegetable Sauté: Utilize bacon fat to sauté onions, carrots, and celery until tender, quickly introducing garlic to enhance the aromatic profile without burning.
- Liquid and Seasoning Integration: Pour in chicken broth, water, tomato sauce, and incorporate navy beans, paprika, thyme, and bay leaf. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, allowing ingredients to meld and develop deep, complex flavors.
- Simmering and Texture Development: Reduce heat, cover the pot, and let the soup gently cook for approximately 20 minutes, allowing ingredients to soften and flavors to intensify.
- Creamy Transformation: Remove two cups of soup and puree until smooth, then reincorporate into the pot to create a luxurious, velvety consistency that binds the soup’s elements.
- Final Seasoning and Garnish: Fold most of the crispy bacon back into the soup, reserving some for topping. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper to balance the flavors.
- Serving Presentation: Ladle the soup into bowls, garnish with reserved crispy bacon bits and fresh parsley, accompanied by a slice of crusty bread for a rustic, satisfying meal.
Notes
- Render Bacon Perfectly: Cook bacon slowly to release maximum fat and achieve crispy, golden texture without burning, ensuring rich flavor foundation for the soup.
- Control Vegetable Sautéing: Dice vegetables uniformly and sauté until just softened, preventing overcooking that could diminish their natural sweetness and vibrant color.
- Manage Bean Texture: Simmer beans gently to maintain their integrity, avoiding aggressive boiling that might break down or turn them mushy, preserving their delightful bite and structure.
- Customize Soup Consistency: Use partial blending technique to create a creamy yet textured soup, allowing some beans to remain whole while incorporating a smooth background for enhanced mouthfeel.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 200
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 27 g
- Fiber: 6 g
- Protein: 10 g
- Cholesterol: 20 mg