Description
Hearty Smoky Bacon and Bean Soup brings warmth and comfort straight from rustic kitchens. Robust flavors of crispy bacon, tender beans, and rich seasonings create a soul-satisfying meal you’ll crave on chilly evenings.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Proteins and Beans:
- 6 slices bacon, chopped
- 1 (15 ounces) can great northern beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 (15 ounces) can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
- 4 cups chicken broth
Vegetables and Aromatics:
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 carrots, diced
- 2 celery stalks, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 (14.5 ounces) can diced tomatoes, with juice
Seasonings and Herbs:
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 bay leaf
Garnishes:
- Chopped fresh parsley
- Extra crispy bacon pieces
- Shredded Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Render the bacon in a spacious pot over medium heat until golden and crisp. Extract the bacon pieces with a perforated utensil, reserving the rendered fat within the cooking vessel.
- Introduce diced onions, carrots, and celery into the bacon drippings. Sauté the vegetables until they soften and become translucent, approximately 4-5 minutes.
- Incorporate minced garlic, smoked paprika, thyme, black pepper, and salt. Stir rapidly and allow the aromatics to bloom for approximately 45 seconds, releasing their fragrant essence.
- Pour in the beans, chicken broth, diced tomatoes, Worcestershire sauce, and carefully nestle the bay leaf into the mixture. Thoroughly combine all components.
- Elevate the liquid to a rolling boil, then immediately reduce the temperature to generate a gentle simmer. Allow the soup to develop its flavors for 22-27 minutes, periodically stirring to prevent potential scorching.
- For enhanced texture, utilize an immersion blender to partially puree some soup contents, creating a more luxurious consistency.
- Discard the bay leaf. Reintroduce the crispy bacon pieces and garnish with fresh parsley, additional bacon crumbles, and delicate Parmesan cheese shavings.
- Serve piping hot, accompanied by rustic crusty bread for a complete culinary experience.
Notes
- Customize the bacon’s crispiness by cooking it longer for extra crunch or shorter for a softer texture, depending on personal preference.
- Use turkey bacon or plant-based bacon alternatives for a lighter, healthier version that still provides smoky flavor.
- Enhance protein content by adding diced chicken or ham alongside the bacon for a more substantial meal.
- Adjust the soup’s consistency by adding more broth for a thinner soup or using less liquid for a heartier, thicker texture.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 210
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 7g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fiber: 8g
- Protein: 12g
- Cholesterol: 20mg