Monday, February 21, 2011

Hearty Crockpot Bean Soup

Would you believe those big chunks are not potatoes?

The other day I read a blog complaining about the mushiness of canned beans. It's been a while since I bothered to cook anything with dried beans, so I thought I'd give it a shot. There's no question that dried beans cost a lot less than canned beans, and after eating this, you can bet my next batch of chili will be made with dried beans. I think they are better!

I used a variety of beans in this recipe, plus veggies, and apples. My grocery store had Texas style ribs (dark pork meat with no bones) on sale that I thought would hold up well to slow cooking. It's hot and hearty and oh-so-easy, not to mention fairly healthy! I felt spoiled and lazy since it all happened in the crock pot without much effort. Don't be fooled though, at the low setting, the beans really do take eight hours to cook


Hearty Crockpot Bean Soup


1/2 cup dried Northern beans
1/2 cup dried kidney beans

1/3 cup dried baby lima beans
2 1/2 to 3 pounds pork
2 stalks celery, sliced
2 apples, peeled, cored and quartered or diced
1 14.5 ounce can diced tomatoes
2 14.5 ounce cans chicken broth (use tomato can to measure)
2 14.5 ounce cans water
1/2 teaspoon rosemary
1/4 teaspoon paprika
2-3 cloves garlic

2 large leaves red Swiss chard chopped, including stems
1 10-ounce package peas

Wash the Northern beans and the kidney beans. Pick out any that look odd and remove all floaters. Put them in the crock pot (turned OFF) with six cups water to soak overnight.

In the morning, dump the water in the beans, rinse them and set aside. Place the meat in the bottom of the crock pot, and add the beans on top of the meat. Add everything else, except the Swiss chard and peas. Cook on low for seven hours and fifteen minutes.

Add the Swiss chard and frozen peas and cook another 45 minutes. Serve and enjoy!

12 comments:

  1. Krista, I'm so excited to have another excuse to use my Crockpot! I love the ease of this recipe and I love the smug feeling I get when using my Crockpot--because I feel so clever that I've got supper all taken care of at the beginning of the day. :) I haven't used dried beans but I'm going to have to start...thanks for the encouragement to do it!

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  2. Wow - you got me! I really did think those were potatoes. I love your idea of using apples instead. In combo with the pork, they have got to be delicious. I'm also with you on the dried beans. A little extra trouble is worth so much more in texture and taste. We woke up to more white stuff all over New York this AM (and after a few days of almost-spring weather)! This soup is perfect for the (apparent) return of winter. :)

    Cheers,
    ~ Cleo Coffeehouse Mystery.com
    Cleo Coyle on Twitter

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  3. Krista love bean soup. I never buy can beans they are mushy. I always get the bags and soak them always turn out better. This will be a nice change with the apples. I really thought they were potatoes :).

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  4. Looks so tasty and it's a recipe even I can make! And perfect for these continuing cold winter days. Thanks Krista, can hardly wait to give it a try.

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  5. Yum. As it seems like endless winter here, we are using our crockpot often. This will be a terrific variation. Thanks, Krista. You fooled me with the apples.

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  6. Wow, Krista, what an interesting soup. Love the Texas pork. Why the apples? I'm soooo curious.

    ~Avery

    AveryAames.com
    @AveryAames
    facebook

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  7. I'm inspired to try dry beans versus canned in my next chili concoction (never the same taste twice!). Great idea, Krista. I love the photos. Gorgeous dinner -- I can almost taste it from here!

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  8. Elizabeth, it's good that you feel clever. I almost feel guilty because it's so easy! I really need to use my crockpot more often. Crockpot dishes definitely have that comfort food element.

    Oh, Cleo! Not more white stuff. Yecch. Definitely a warm, hearty soup day!

    ~ Krista

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  9. Babs, I made the dish and when I looked at the photos, I thought, gee, I don't recall using potatoes! LOL!

    Erika, place in pot and turn on. Couldn't be easier! We all need recipes like that.

    Mary Jane, so sorry about your endless winter. (Must be careful what I say lest I tempt the winter gremlins to return to our area). Crockpot soup is definitely in order!

    ~ Krista

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  10. Avery, I used the apples for flavor. Pork and apples like each other, so I thought I'd give it a shot. Besides, I love cooked apples!

    Julie, you have to try using dried beans. It's really not a big deal to soak them, though one does have to plan ahead a teeny bit. I'm itching to try them in chili!

    ~ Krista

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  11. And if you live at 9100 feet, dried beans, rice, pasta, take forever! I made split pea soup yesterday with dried split peas. Cooked it (on the stovetop) for about 8 hours.

    Terry
    Terry's Place
    Romance with a Twist--of Mystery

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  12. Terry, I can see how that might be a problem! Hmm, does that mean you don't age as fast? : )

    ~ Krista

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