German Bean Soup (Bohnensuppe)

Submitted by Lorac

"Hugely chunky, thick, colorful, and peppery, this great peasant soup is filled with chewy ham, tender beans and potatoes, with carrots and green beans along for the ride for texture, color, and taste. Its an excellent hearty meal, most especially with a frosted stein of good beer and chewy bread. Posted by request. Copied and pasted from Soupsong."

 

• Ready In: 2hrs 10mins
• Ingredients: 17
• Serves: 4-6

ingredients

• 1⁄2 lb white beans, soaked overnight in water to cover
• 8 cups water
• 1⁄2 cup cubed bacon or 1/2 cup country ham
• 1⁄4 lb green beans, cut into bite-sized pieces
• 1⁄2 celery root, peeled and cut into bite-sized cubes (if you can't find celeriac, use 2 stalks of celery, cut into cubes)
• 1 carrot, peeled and cubed
• 1⁄2 leek, sliced into thin rings
• 1 onion, roughly chopped
• 1 parsley root, cubed (or 1/2 cup chopped parsley)
• 1⁄2 lb small red potato, unpeeled and cubed
• 1 tablespoon marjoram, crumbled between your palms
• 1 teaspoon thyme, crumbled between your palms
• 2 bay leaves
• 1⁄2 cup parsley, chopped
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1 tablespoon flour
• salt and pepper

directions

1. Drain the soaked beans, then put in a kettle with 8 cups of water and the bacon.
2. Bring to a boil over medium heat, then reduce heat, cover, and simmer for an hour.
3. Add the green beans, celery root cubes, carrots, leeks, onion, parsley root (or parsley), potatoes, marjoram, thyme, and bay leaves.
4. Bring back to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer for another hour.
5. While the soup is cooking, melt the butter over low heat in a saucepan.
6. Stir in the flour and let it brown very very slowly, stirring occasionally,this could take an hour, if you keep the heat low enough.
7. When ready, stir in a little of the soup stock, whisk for a minute, then stir into the soup kettle.
8. Season with salt and pepper and cook uncovered, stirring from time to time, for 10 minutes.
9. When ready to serve, stir in the parsley, remove the bay leaves, adjust the seasoning, then ladle into soup bowls and serve immediately.

Reviews

[Pam 5]

My co-worker just made this soup and brought it into work. It is absolutely amazing. She didn't use celergy root, carrots or leaks, so it was mostly just bean soup, and she also added three tsp white vinegar to the broth at the end. I am going to try and make it to see if I can do as good as job as her.