Calico Bean Soup Recipe from Mix

CookbookCarrie's Note:

Great soup and a great recipe to accompany Calico Bean Soup Mix. Enjoy!

• Total Time: 3 hrs 15 mins
• Prep Time: 15 mins
• Cook Time: 3 hrs

Ingredients:

Servings: 8

• 1 (16 ounce) package beans (including spice packet)
• ham bone or ham hocks or ½ lb ham
• 2 quarts water
• 1 large onion , chopped
• 1 (28 ounce) can tomatoes (or 2 14-1/2 ounce cans)
• 1 lemon, juice of
• salt

Directions:

1. If desired, omit ham and substitute beef, chicken, or vegetable stock for the cooking water.
2. Wash beans thoroughly.
3. Place in a large kettle, cover with water and soak overnight.
4. (An alternate method is to bring beans and water to a boil,remove from heat, and cover and let stand for 1 hour.) Next drain beans and add 2 quarts of new water and ham or ham hock (or use broth if omitting ham).
5. Simmer slowly for 2-1/2 to 3 hours.
6. Then add spice packet, onion, tomatoes (undrained), lemon juice and salt to taste (spice packet contains no salt).
7. Simmer another 30 minutes or until beans are tender.
8. Take ham from soup.
9. Remove any bits of ham from bone and return to soup.
10. If using boneless ham, cut into bite-size pieces and return to soup.
11. Serve.

Reviews

[artistclogger]

Yummy soup! Followed the directions as described, but added 1 c chopped celery and 1 c chopped carrots with the onion. Used low-fat turkey keilbasa for the meat/flavoring, and added a tsp of tabasco sauce. We loved it. Made it for my parents and they also loved it. Freezes well--just add the fresh lemon juice to liven it up. Thank you for a delicious soup recipe to accompany your wonderful gift "bean mix" recipe.

[Maggie, Cooking]

Update: I'm adding another star because when I reheated this, I added some smoked sausage for more flavor, and it turned out really good. I am wondering if the error was on my part using the ham bone but without much meat on it. I'm new to cooking, I admit. So, I will make this again, but I will use more than just the ham bone and will include some kind of salty meat for flavor. My previous comment: I hate to be the naysayer, but as pretty as this was, the flavor just really did not do it for us at all. It seemed pretty bland other than the tomatoes, which sort of overpowered the taste. I do appreciate you sharing as an *excellent* idea for a gift jar that I'll still make and give but just with some different spices, so thank you even if it wasn't quite our cup of tea / bowl of soup.

[Marsha D.]

WOW! This is the best bean soup! I added a few things. Along with the beans and ham hock in crockpot,after a few hours I added cooked hamburger meat and I added finely chopped onions,green peppers,celery and minced garlic too. I let it all simmer in crockpot for few more hours and kept adding water as needed. I also added more spices such as Johnny's seasoning salt,parsley flakes,alittle basil,more of the spices that is called for in the spice packet that goes with this recipe, alittle cumin and a dash or two of my blackened seasoning mix I have from one of my recipes. I did leave out the lemon juice. It was kinda like having chili but with all kinds of different beans and more of a soupy texture. We really enjoyed this recipe and WOW! does it ever more make your house have a great aroma!! Thanks so much for sharing this incredible soup.