Carol Michels's Recipe

Bean with Bacon Soup

Category: Recipes

I wanted to create a bean soup that tasted like Campbell's. I think this comes very close.

1 pound dried navy beans (2 cups)
4 ounces bacon slices
1 medium onion, finely diced
8 cups water
2 medium carrots, finely diced
2 medium bay leaves
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon liquid hickory smoke flavoring (optional)

Sort and wash beans, and soak overnight in a large soup pot in 6 cups lukewarm water. Remove to a colander, drain thoroughly and rinse.

Cut bacon slices at 1/2-inch intervals. Fry bacon pieces in the soup pot until crisp. Remove from pan and set aside. Saute onion in bacon drippings until translucent.

In the soup pot, combine all ingredients except liquid smoke. Heat to boiling, then lower heat and simmer, uncovered, for 1 1/2 to 2 hours, or until beans are tender. Add liquid smoke to taste.