Cody Casey
Cooking dry beans in a crock pot is a convenient way to make a hearty and indulgent soup. It's an easy process that involves combining ingredients such as beans, vegetables, broth, and meat in a slow cooker, allowing the flavours to meld together over several hours. The crock pot's slow cooking method ensures that the beans become tender and creamy, absorbing the surrounding flavours. This cooking technique is versatile, allowing for customisation with various ingredients and seasoning options. The end result is a delicious and comforting soup that's perfect for cold months and makes great leftovers for the week.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Ingredients | Dried beans, carrots, onions, celery, garlic, vegetable broth, ham bone, salt, pepper, bay leaves, tomatoes, lemon juice, beef, chicken, vegetable stock, rice, corn bread |
| Recipe | Place all ingredients in the crock pot, ensuring beans are covered by broth. Cook on low for 8 hours or until beans are tender. Remove the ham bone, cut the ham into bite-sized pieces, and return to the crock pot. |
| Time | 8 hours |
| Variations | Minestrone Soup, White Bean Soup, Chicken Tortilla Soup, Sausage Potato Soup, Beef Barley Soup, Butternut Squash Soup, Senate Bean Soup, Three Bean Soup with Turmeric & Lentils |
| Tips | For more flavor, substitute beef, chicken or vegetable stock for water. Add acidic ingredients like tomatoes, citrus, or vinegar after the beans are tender. Soak or boil beans before slow cooking to reduce overall cook time. |
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What You'll Learn
Ingredients: vegetables, broth, dried beans, ham bone, seasoning
Cooking dry beans soup in a crock pot is an easy and convenient way to make a hearty meal. It's a simple process that only requires a few basic ingredients: vegetables, broth, dried beans, a ham bone, and seasoning. Here's a detailed guide to help you create a delicious crock pot soup:
Ingredients:
For the vegetables, you'll need carrots, celery, and onions as a base. You can also add other vegetables like garlic, thyme, and bay leaf for extra flavour. Fresh herbs like parsley, sage, and rosemary will also enhance the taste of your soup.
For the broth, you can use chicken, beef, or vegetable broth. If you prefer a more natural approach, simply use water, as the ham bone and vegetables will create a flavourful broth during cooking.
The dried beans are the star of this soup. You can use a variety of beans such as navy beans, Great Northern beans, cannellini beans, or pinto beans. It's recommended to rinse and soak the beans before cooking to remove any dirt and to help with the softening process.
The ham bone is crucial for adding flavour to the soup. You can use a leftover ham bone from a previous meal, ensuring you scrape off any excess surface fat and honey or spice coating. If you don't have a ham bone, you can use diced ham or ham hocks, but add them towards the end of the cooking process.
Finally, for seasoning, keep it simple with salt and pepper, adding them at the end to taste. You can also include spices like garlic powder, cumin, paprika, and bay leaf to give your soup a unique flavour profile.
Cooking Process:
Start by rinsing and soaking your beans if desired. Chop your vegetables and herbs, and heat some olive oil in a separate pan. Sauté the vegetables until they soften, which should take about 8 to 10 minutes. Then, add the broth or water, beans, ham bone, and spices to the crock pot.
Cook the soup on high for 6-8 hours or until the beans are tender. If using a ham bone, remove it from the pot about 2 hours before the end of cooking, strip the meat from the bone, and return the meat to the pot. Taste the soup and adjust your seasoning as needed.
Your crock pot dry beans soup is now ready to be served! This simple recipe is perfect for using leftover ham bones and creating a hearty, flavourful meal.
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Preparation: boil kidney beans, sauté vegetables, combine in crock pot
To prepare dry bean soup in a crock pot, start by boiling the kidney beans separately. Place the beans in a medium saucepan, cover them with two inches of water, bring to a boil, and let it cook for about 10 minutes. This step is crucial, especially if using kidney beans, as they contain a toxic chemical that becomes five times more potent when cooked at low temperatures.
While the beans are boiling, prepare the vegetables. Chop onions, garlic, and carrots, and any other vegetables you wish to include, such as celery. You can sauté these vegetables in a separate pan with some olive oil until they are lightly browned. This step adds depth of flavor and color to your soup.
Once the beans are boiled and the vegetables are sautéed, it's time to combine everything in the crock pot. Place the beans and vegetables in the crock pot, along with the remaining ingredients, such as broth, spices, and meat (if using). Ensure that the beans are covered by the broth, then set the crock pot to cook on low heat for 6 to 8 hours, or until the beans are tender.
During the last 30 minutes of cooking, you can add acidic ingredients like tomatoes, citrus juices, or vinegar. This step brightens up the flavor of the soup. Finally, taste the soup and adjust seasoning before serving.
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Cooking: cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours
Once you've prepared your crock pot with your chosen ingredients, it's time to let it work its magic! Cover the crock pot and cook your soup on a low heat setting for 6-8 hours. This will allow the flavours to develop and the beans to become tender.
The exact cooking time may vary depending on the age of your beans, so it's a good idea to keep an eye on them. Older beans may take longer to cook, so be prepared to give them a little extra time if needed. It's important that the beans reach a simmer to ensure they are fully cooked and safe to eat, so make sure your soup reaches a vigorous bubble.
During the cooking process, try to avoid opening the lid too often, as this will extend the cooking time. However, if you're curious about the progress of your soup, don't worry—you can always take a quick peek without causing too much harm!
Once the beans are tender, it's time to make some final adjustments. Remove the ham bone and any other large ingredients that you don't want in your final soup, such as bay leaves. If you've used a meaty ham bone, you can pick the ham from the bone, chop or shred it into bite-sized pieces, and return it to the crock pot. Give the soup a good stir to combine all the flavours.
At this point, you can also add any acidic ingredients that you'd like to include, such as tomatoes, lemon juice, or vinegar. Stir these in and let the soup cook for an additional 15-30 minutes before serving. This will allow the flavours to meld and develop even further.
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After cooking: remove ham bone, shred meat, add back to crock pot
Once the soup is cooked, it's time to remove the ham bone. This is an important step as it allows you to shred the meat and add it back into the crock pot, creating a heartier soup.
First, locate the ham bone in the crock pot. It may be partially covered by the beans and other ingredients, so take your time to avoid spilling the soup. Use tongs or a large spoon to carefully remove the bone and place it on a cutting board or plate.
Next, use your hands or a fork to shred the meat from the bone. You can also cut it into bite-sized pieces, ensuring it is easy to eat and well-distributed throughout the soup. This step is essential, as it transforms the ham into tender, juicy morsels that will infuse even more flavour into the soup.
Once you have a generous pile of shredded ham, it's time to return it to the crock pot. Add the meat back into the soup and stir it in well. Make sure to scrape any remaining meat from the bone, so none of that delicious ham goes to waste.
At this stage, you can also add any additional ingredients or seasonings that the recipe calls for. For example, you might stir in a can of diced tomatoes, lemon juice, or spices like chilli powder. These additions will enhance the flavour and give your soup a personalised touch.
By following these steps, you're not just adding flavour to your bean soup—you're also adding texture and making it a more substantial meal. The shredded ham will ensure every spoonful is satisfying and memorable.
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Serving: serve with cornbread or rice
When serving bean soup, it's common to pair it with cornbread or rice. If you want to serve your crockpot bean soup with cornbread, it's recommended to bake the cornbread fresh. You can serve the soup in a bowl with a slice of cornbread on the side.
If you prefer rice, you can serve the soup over a bed of rice. White rice is a good option, but you can also try flavoured rice, such as tomato rice or vegetable-fried rice, for a more complex dish.
You can also offer a variety of toppings and sides to accompany the soup and cornbread or rice. For example, chopped fresh herbs, such as parsley, chives, or thyme, can be sprinkled on top. You can also provide hot sauce or chilli oil for those who like it spicy.
Additionally, you might consider serving the bean soup with a side salad or roasted vegetables. This can add some freshness and balance to the meal, especially if the soup is particularly hearty and indulgent.
Remember that crockpot bean soup can be quite filling, so you might not need to serve large portions of cornbread or rice. It's always a good idea to offer second helpings, though, so your guests can adjust their servings according to their preferences.
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Frequently asked questions
It takes between 6 to 10 hours to cook dry beans soup in a crock pot. The time depends on the type of bean and the age of the bean. Older beans may take longer to cook.
The ingredients needed are dried beans, broth or water, meat (optional), vegetables (optional), and seasonings. Common meat choices include ham bones, ham hocks, and sausage slices. Vegetables that can be added include carrots, onions, celery, garlic, and potatoes. Bay leaves are also commonly used.
The process for cooking dry beans soup in a crock pot involves first preparing the beans by boiling or soaking them. Then, combine all the ingredients in the crock pot, ensuring that the beans are covered by broth or water. Cook on low heat for 8 to 10 hours, or until the beans are tender. If desired, add acidic ingredients such as tomatoes or vinegar towards the end of cooking.
Some tips for making dry beans soup in a crock pot include browning any meat or vegetables before adding them to the crock pot, mashing some of the beans to thicken the soup, and substituting stock or broth for water to enhance the flavor. It is also important to note that the cooking time may be extended if the lid of the crock pot is opened frequently.
