Best Lima Bean Soup - Especially Wintertime!
- Ready In:
- 5hrs 25mins
- Ingredients:
- 16
- Serves:
-
24
ingredients
- 5 -6 quarts water
- 2 lbs dried large lima beans (rinsed)
- 2 -3 medium onions (peeled and quartered)
- 6 -7 medium potatoes (diced)
- 2 additional medium potatoes (grated)
- 2 lbs bacon (cubed and browned)
- 2 carrots (diced)
- 2 stalks celery (diced)
- 4 cups tomatoes (diced, canned will do)
- 2 bay leaves
- 3⁄4 tablespoon thyme
- 3⁄4 tablespoon paprika
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- salt
- pepper
- flavorful hot sauce (optional)
directions
- 1. Rinse lima beans and place in water along with quartered onions, carrots, and celery in pot or dutch oven.
- 2. Bring mix to a boil over medium heat.
- 3. When mix begins to boil, reduce heat and simmer for an hour.
- 4. Add the two grated potatoes and simmer for an additional half hour.
- 5. Add the balance of the potatoes along with the golden brown bacon (nix the bacon drippings unless you don't mind the fat and extra calories).
- 6. (Optional) Add one cup of grated cauliflower or one cup of flour for thicker broth, if desired.
- 7. Let simmer for an additional half hour, then add four cups of diced tomatoes (canned will do) for flavor and a bit of color, two bay leaves, 3/4 T thyme, 3/4 T paprika, 2 T lemon juice, salt and pepper to taste, and favorite flavorful hot sauce (optional).
- 8. Either continue to simmer for three to four additional hours until done, stirring often and/or adding additional water to avoid burning the ever-thickening mix, or remove contents from heat and transfer to 7-qt. or 8-qt. crock-pot to finish soup at low setting for five to six hours till finished.
- Add additional warm water prior to serving if somewhat thinner consistency desired. Okay to refrigerate broth overnight and then transfer to crock-pot next morning, with a little extra water, if needed, to finish soup at low setting for six to seven hours, but wait until then to add lemon juice. Some think this soup is a bit bland, but avoid over-seasoning while cooking and just let each person season to taste. Goes great with corn bread or a multi-grain muffin or roll. An ale really compliments the overall taste.
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