Bacon and White Bean Soup
A hearty and comforting soup made with bacon, white beans, and fresh vegetables.
Equipment
- Soup pot or Dutch oven
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 6 slices bacon, chopped
- 3 large carrots, peeled and chopped
- 2 ribs celery, finely chopped
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- 0.25 teaspoon paprika
- 0.25 teaspoon pepper
- 0.25 teaspoon red chili flakes
- 5 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 2 cans white kidney beans (19 oz or 540 ml each)
- 0.75 cup half-and-half
- 0.25 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 bunch fresh chopped parsley or spinach, as desired
Instructions
- In a large soup pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat, cook the chopped bacon until crisp, stirring often for about 3-4 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to remove the bacon and set it aside on a paper towel-lined plate. Tip: Make sure to keep an eye on the bacon to prevent it from burning.
- Add the carrots, celery, and onion to the pot with the bacon fat. Cook over medium-high heat for 4-5 minutes until the onion softens and starts to brown. If there's excess fat, soak some up with a paper towel and discard. Tip: This helps to keep the soup from being too greasy.
- Stir in the garlic, salt, thyme, oregano, parsley, paprika, pepper, and chili flakes. Cook for 1 minute. Tip: Adding the garlic at this stage allows it to release its flavors without burning.
- Pour in the chicken broth and scrape the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon to release any stuck-on bits. Tip: This adds extra flavor to the soup.
- Drain and rinse the white kidney beans. Blend 3/4 cup of the beans with the half-and-half in a blender until smooth. Tip: This step creates a creamy base for your soup.
- Add the whole beans, bacon, and bean purée to the pot. Bring to a simmer, cover, and reduce the heat to medium-low. Simmer for 10-15 minutes until the vegetables are tender.
- Stir in the Parmesan cheese and parsley or spinach. Adjust seasoning to taste and serve hot. Tip: For a creamier soup, consider blending more beans with half-and-half.
Notes
For a creamier soup, blend more beans with half-and-half. You can also add a dash of hot sauce for extra heat. No alcoholic drinks allowed, please substitute with a non-alcoholic option.