BEAN AND BACON SOUP

Yesterday we got the first big snowfall we’ve had all winter. We’ve had the odd flurries, but the forecast was for 4 to 8 inches. It started at 10:00am and by noon there was already 3 inches on the ground. We decided to run over and stock up on some groceries. I’m fighting a bit of a cold and wanted to make a soup. As I had some bacon that I needed to cook up, the first soup that comes to mind is always bean and bacon soup. I love white kidney beans and love the canned version of bean and bacon soup. So grabbed a couple cans of white kidney beans. 

If you have dried beans on hand, feel free to use them, giving them a soak overnight. If you use canned beans, this soup is super quick to create, and is filling, delicious, and perfect to have on a snowy evening.

I’m not a fan of mirepoix. Neither the Hubby or myself are fond of cooked carrots and personally I detest the taste of cooked celery. My usual version is actually onions, garlic, and chilies. As I didn’t want a spicy bean and bacon soup, it was just the two of the three.

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Bean and Bacon Soup

Ingredients

• 2 540 ml cans white kidney beans rinsed
• 6 strips of bacon sliced into pieces
• 1 onion chopped small
• 4 cloves garlic minced
• 1/2 teaspoon dried mustard
• 2 teaspoons dried oregano
• 4 cups vegetable stock
• 2 teaspoons ground white pepper
• 1 baked potato skin removed
• Salt to taste

Instructions

• In a large cold soup pot, place the bacon pieces, and turn the heat on to medium high and render the pieces down. Stir occasionally.
• When the bacon is almost crisp, turn the heat down to medium, and add the onion.
• Stir and saute the onion. When the onion has softened, add the garlic and saute for a couple minutes.
• Add the beans, stir to mix, then add the stock, potato (mashed up), dried mustard, dried oregano, and white pepper.
• Very lightly salt at this point.
• Let simmer for half an hour, then using a hand blender, blend to your desired consistency.
• Let simmer for another half hour, then taste for any further salt seasoning.

Notes

I like some texture in a bean and bacon soup, so only use the hand blender until about half of the soup is smooth.
You do not need to add the potato. I used it as a thickener and to use up what was in my fridge.