Thread: Best "beans" for bean soup?

Anthony Ferrante wrote:
> I am going to make some bean soup in my crockpot soon. This will be
> the first time for me.
>
> Are great northern beans the best to use?

No. There's no "best". You need to make soup with different beans
and see which ones you like. I love great northerns in soup, but
there are lots of other good ones.

> Also some have told me to
> soak them first. Others say not to since they will slow cook in the
> pot. Your thoughts?

Some people say that soaking (and then rinsing) removes some of the
chemicals that cause flatulence. I soak if I remember, not if I
don't. It means they take a bit longer, though, so if your recipe
calls for soaked beans, you won't get the timing you're looking for.

>
> Anyone have any simple recipes you use for this which you might want
> to share? I thought about going online and checking out the recipe for
> The Senate Bean Soup. Anyone ever make that and if so, your thoughts
> on it compared to other versions?

I haven't made it, but an easy bean soup that my family likes is
this: Cook 4 slices of bacon in a soup pot. Remove the bacon from
the pot and cook a chopped onion in the grease. Add white beans,
enough water to cover plus two inches, a sliced carrot, and a bay
leaf. Bring to a boil, simmer until the beans are good and soft,
adding water if necessary. Season to taste (black pepper and hot
sauce are good choices).

Serene

Anthony Ferrante wrote:
> I am going to make some bean soup in my crockpot soon. This will be
> the first time for me.
>
> Are great northern beans the best to use?

No. There's no "best". You need to make soup with different beans
and see which ones you like. I love great northerns in soup, but
there are lots of other good ones.

> Also some have told me to
> soak them first. Others say not to since they will slow cook in the
> pot. Your thoughts?

Some people say that soaking (and then rinsing) removes some of the
chemicals that cause flatulence. I soak if I remember, not if I
don't. It means they take a bit longer, though, so if your recipe
calls for soaked beans, you won't get the timing you're looking for.

>
> Anyone have any simple recipes you use for this which you might want
> to share? I thought about going online and checking out the recipe for
> The Senate Bean Soup. Anyone ever make that and if so, your thoughts
> on it compared to other versions?

I haven't made it, but an easy bean soup that my family likes is
this: Cook 4 slices of bacon in a soup pot. Remove the bacon from
the pot and cook a chopped onion in the grease. Add white beans,
enough water to cover plus two inches, a sliced carrot, and a bay
leaf. Bring to a boil, simmer until the beans are good and soft,
adding water if necessary. Season to taste (black pepper and hot
sauce are good choices).

Serene

"Anthony Ferrante" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news[email protected]..
>I am going to make some bean soup in my crockpot soon. This will be
> the first time for me.
>
> Are great northern beans the best to use? Also some have told me to
> soak them first. Others say not to since they will slow cook in the
> pot. Your thoughts?
>
> Anyone have any simple recipes you use for this which you might want
> to share? I thought about going online and checking out the recipe for
> The Senate Bean Soup. Anyone ever make that and if so, your thoughts
> on it compared to other versions?
>

I like 15-bean soup blends. Dry beans. The different colors, flavors, and
textures are really good. I would not use a crockpot, though, it is not
necessary. If you do, don't add the carrots, onions, etc. until the last
hour.
Buy the beans in a bag, and soak them overnight, dumping the water and
replacing before bringing to a boil then covering and reducing to a simmer.

"Anthony Ferrante" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news[email protected]..
>I am going to make some bean soup in my crockpot soon. This will be
> the first time for me.
>
> Are great northern beans the best to use? Also some have told me to
> soak them first. Others say not to since they will slow cook in the
> pot. Your thoughts?
>
> Anyone have any simple recipes you use for this which you might want
> to share? I thought about going online and checking out the recipe for
> The Senate Bean Soup. Anyone ever make that and if so, your thoughts
> on it compared to other versions?
>

I like 15-bean soup blends. Dry beans. The different colors, flavors, and
textures are really good. I would not use a crockpot, though, it is not
necessary. If you do, don't add the carrots, onions, etc. until the last
hour.
Buy the beans in a bag, and soak them overnight, dumping the water and
replacing before bringing to a boil then covering and reducing to a simmer.

Serene <[email protected]> wrote in news:66vtprF2m9lu2U1
@mid.individual.net:

> Anthony Ferrante wrote:
>> I am going to make some bean soup in my crockpot soon. This will be
>> the first time for me.
>>
>> Are great northern beans the best to use?
>
> No. There's no "best". You need to make soup with different beans
> and see which ones you like. I love great northerns in soup, but
> there are lots of other good ones.
>
> > Also some have told me to
>> soak them first. Others say not to since they will slow cook in the
>> pot. Your thoughts?
>
> Some people say that soaking (and then rinsing) removes some of the
> chemicals that cause flatulence. I soak if I remember, not if I
> don't. It means they take a bit longer, though, so if your recipe
> calls for soaked beans, you won't get the timing you're looking for.
>
>>
>> Anyone have any simple recipes you use for this which you might want
>> to share? I thought about going online and checking out the recipe for
>> The Senate Bean Soup. Anyone ever make that and if so, your thoughts
>> on it compared to other versions?
>
> I haven't made it, but an easy bean soup that my family likes is
> this: Cook 4 slices of bacon in a soup pot. Remove the bacon from
> the pot and cook a chopped onion in the grease. Add white beans,
> enough water to cover plus two inches, a sliced carrot, and a bay
> leaf. Bring to a boil, simmer until the beans are good and soft,
> adding water if necessary. Season to taste (black pepper and hot
> sauce are good choices).
>
> Serene
>

That's a good basic recipe..but use 3 to 5 differing dried bean types
instead of just the great northerns and adding some sliced celery doesn't
hurt. After the beans soften a bit some chopped tomato wouldn't hurt.
Also consider taking out a portion of the soup and puree it then return
it to the pot to thicken it up a bit. then add the bacon you cooked after
crumbling it of course. Also using chicken stock instead of water works
too. I like to add more celery than carrot as I find the carrot sweetens
the soup more than I like...But whatever you do it will be edible and
varying the recipe about a bit make for sometimes a better personal taste
fit.

Using garlic sausage in a bean soup works well so does ham, bacon, hot
sauce and some lime juice (if you use black beans).

The above was just some thoughts to keep you busy and outa trouble.

--

The house of the burning beet-Alan

A man in line at the bank kept falling over...when he got to a teller he
asked for his balance.

Serene <[email protected]> wrote in news:66vtprF2m9lu2U1
@mid.individual.net:

> Anthony Ferrante wrote:
>> I am going to make some bean soup in my crockpot soon. This will be
>> the first time for me.
>>
>> Are great northern beans the best to use?
>
> No. There's no "best". You need to make soup with different beans
> and see which ones you like. I love great northerns in soup, but
> there are lots of other good ones.
>
> > Also some have told me to
>> soak them first. Others say not to since they will slow cook in the
>> pot. Your thoughts?
>
> Some people say that soaking (and then rinsing) removes some of the
> chemicals that cause flatulence. I soak if I remember, not if I
> don't. It means they take a bit longer, though, so if your recipe
> calls for soaked beans, you won't get the timing you're looking for.
>
>>
>> Anyone have any simple recipes you use for this which you might want
>> to share? I thought about going online and checking out the recipe for
>> The Senate Bean Soup. Anyone ever make that and if so, your thoughts
>> on it compared to other versions?
>
> I haven't made it, but an easy bean soup that my family likes is
> this: Cook 4 slices of bacon in a soup pot. Remove the bacon from
> the pot and cook a chopped onion in the grease. Add white beans,
> enough water to cover plus two inches, a sliced carrot, and a bay
> leaf. Bring to a boil, simmer until the beans are good and soft,
> adding water if necessary. Season to taste (black pepper and hot
> sauce are good choices).
>
> Serene
>

That's a good basic recipe..but use 3 to 5 differing dried bean types
instead of just the great northerns and adding some sliced celery doesn't
hurt. After the beans soften a bit some chopped tomato wouldn't hurt.
Also consider taking out a portion of the soup and puree it then return
it to the pot to thicken it up a bit. then add the bacon you cooked after
crumbling it of course. Also using chicken stock instead of water works
too. I like to add more celery than carrot as I find the carrot sweetens
the soup more than I like...But whatever you do it will be edible and
varying the recipe about a bit make for sometimes a better personal taste
fit.

Using garlic sausage in a bean soup works well so does ham, bacon, hot
sauce and some lime juice (if you use black beans).

The above was just some thoughts to keep you busy and outa trouble.

--

The house of the burning beet-Alan

A man in line at the bank kept falling over...when he got to a teller he
asked for his balance.

On Sat, 19 Apr 2008 23:49:27 -0400, Anthony Ferrante
<[email protected]> wrote:

>I am going to make some bean soup in my crockpot soon. This will be
>the first time for me.

Beans in a crock pot is a very tricky thing to cook. The number one
rule of crock pot cooking is to leave the lid ON for the entire time
of cooking. Every time you remove the lid, you loose about 30
minuties of cooking time. It takes that long for the crockpot to
recover the heat loss. This leads to the problem.

Beans will adsorb this liquid and expand. Getting the correct amount
of water and beans for the pot size can be tricky. I have had the
beans swell and move the lid off...and I have had the beans adsorb all
the liquid and the pot cooks dry. Both scenarios are disaster.

On the bag of beans will be directions for "quick soak". This
method works very good. I would use this method and cook in a
"normal" stock pot twice the volume of the beans being cooked. Great
Northerns are my favorite.

On Sat, 19 Apr 2008 23:49:27 -0400, Anthony Ferrante
<[email protected]> wrote:

>I am going to make some bean soup in my crockpot soon. This will be
>the first time for me.

Beans in a crock pot is a very tricky thing to cook. The number one
rule of crock pot cooking is to leave the lid ON for the entire time
of cooking. Every time you remove the lid, you loose about 30
minuties of cooking time. It takes that long for the crockpot to
recover the heat loss. This leads to the problem.

Beans will adsorb this liquid and expand. Getting the correct amount
of water and beans for the pot size can be tricky. I have had the
beans swell and move the lid off...and I have had the beans adsorb all
the liquid and the pot cooks dry. Both scenarios are disaster.

On the bag of beans will be directions for "quick soak". This
method works very good. I would use this method and cook in a
"normal" stock pot twice the volume of the beans being cooked. Great
Northerns are my favorite.

On Apr 19, 8:49*pm, Anthony Ferrante <ferrante276-ngs...@yahoo.com>
wrote:
> I am going to make some bean soup in my crockpot soon. This will be
> the first time for me.
>
> Are great northern beans the best to use? Also some have told me to
> soak them first. Others say not to since they will slow cook in the
> pot. Your thoughts?
>
> Anyone have any simple recipes you use for this which you might want
> to share? I thought about going online and checking out the recipe for
> The Senate Bean Soup. Anyone ever make that and if so, your thoughts
> on it compared to other versions?
>
> Thanks,
> Anthony

Hi- Senate bean soup is a winner in my book. I used Great Northern
beans, and I did soak them for the first time last time I made this
soup. It may have cut the gas issue a little, but really not enough to
notice. It's the price you pay...I did it in the crockpot also, and it
was great!!

On Apr 19, 8:49*pm, Anthony Ferrante <ferrante276-ngs...@yahoo.com>
wrote:
> I am going to make some bean soup in my crockpot soon. This will be
> the first time for me.
>
> Are great northern beans the best to use? Also some have told me to
> soak them first. Others say not to since they will slow cook in the
> pot. Your thoughts?
>
> Anyone have any simple recipes you use for this which you might want
> to share? I thought about going online and checking out the recipe for
> The Senate Bean Soup. Anyone ever make that and if so, your thoughts
> on it compared to other versions?
>
> Thanks,
> Anthony

Hi- Senate bean soup is a winner in my book. I used Great Northern
beans, and I did soak them for the first time last time I made this
soup. It may have cut the gas issue a little, but really not enough to
notice. It's the price you pay...I did it in the crockpot also, and it
was great!!

On Sat, 19 Apr 2008 23:49:27 -0400, Anthony Ferrante
<[email protected]> wrote:

>I am going to make some bean soup in my crockpot soon. This will be
>the first time for me.
>
>Are great northern beans the best to use? Also some have told me to
>soak them first. Others say not to since they will slow cook in the
>pot. Your thoughts?
>
>Anyone have any simple recipes you use for this which you might want
>to share? I thought about going online and checking out the recipe for
>The Senate Bean Soup. Anyone ever make that and if so, your thoughts
>on it compared to other versions?
>
>Thanks,
>Anthony

i soak my beans before cooking, but i use the stove top, not a
crockpot. most of the 'senate bean soups' i have seen seem rather
bland to me. i use less water, more ham, no carrots or celery. i
think my recipe could be adapted to a crockpot:

bean soup (adapted from 'the everything cookbook.' by betty wason)

1 cup dried great northern beans (or other)

8 oz. beer

4 cups water

1 bay leaf

1 tbls cider vinegar

1 tsp adobo spice (a mix from goya)

2-3 smoked ham hocks (or 6 oz. [?] package of country ham chips)

1 medium onion, sliced

1/4-1/2 tsp whole black peppercorns, ground in spice mill or mortar
and pestle

1/4-1/2 tsp rooster sauce (srichacha pepper paste) or 1 tsp bufalo
chipotle sauce

* * * * * *

rinse and pick over beans in colander. soak overnight according to
package directions. drain. put beer, beans and water in the pot, ham
hocks and sliced onion. put pepper on top. simmer, covered, about
three hours. if using, remove hocks and trim meat from fat as best
you can, and cut meat into small dice. return to pot. add rooster
sauce or bufalo and adobo. simmer covered another 1/2-1 hour.

* * * * * *

i like to add some ketchup to my bowl at serving time, to make it
kinda pink, but if you think that's gross, don't.

this is a thick soup, or as my dad refers to his version 'ham stew
with beans.' it's a main-course item.

your pal,
blake

On Sat, 19 Apr 2008 23:49:27 -0400, Anthony Ferrante
<[email protected]> wrote:

>I am going to make some bean soup in my crockpot soon. This will be
>the first time for me.
>
>Are great northern beans the best to use? Also some have told me to
>soak them first. Others say not to since they will slow cook in the
>pot. Your thoughts?
>
>Anyone have any simple recipes you use for this which you might want
>to share? I thought about going online and checking out the recipe for
>The Senate Bean Soup. Anyone ever make that and if so, your thoughts
>on it compared to other versions?
>
>Thanks,
>Anthony

i soak my beans before cooking, but i use the stove top, not a
crockpot. most of the 'senate bean soups' i have seen seem rather
bland to me. i use less water, more ham, no carrots or celery. i
think my recipe could be adapted to a crockpot:

bean soup (adapted from 'the everything cookbook.' by betty wason)

1 cup dried great northern beans (or other)

8 oz. beer

4 cups water

1 bay leaf

1 tbls cider vinegar

1 tsp adobo spice (a mix from goya)

2-3 smoked ham hocks (or 6 oz. [?] package of country ham chips)

1 medium onion, sliced

1/4-1/2 tsp whole black peppercorns, ground in spice mill or mortar
and pestle

1/4-1/2 tsp rooster sauce (srichacha pepper paste) or 1 tsp bufalo
chipotle sauce

* * * * * *

rinse and pick over beans in colander. soak overnight according to
package directions. drain. put beer, beans and water in the pot, ham
hocks and sliced onion. put pepper on top. simmer, covered, about
three hours. if using, remove hocks and trim meat from fat as best
you can, and cut meat into small dice. return to pot. add rooster
sauce or bufalo and adobo. simmer covered another 1/2-1 hour.

* * * * * *

i like to add some ketchup to my bowl at serving time, to make it
kinda pink, but if you think that's gross, don't.

this is a thick soup, or as my dad refers to his version 'ham stew
with beans.' it's a main-course item.

your pal,
blake

"Anthony Ferrante" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news[email protected]..
>I am going to make some bean soup in my crockpot soon. This will be
> the first time for me.
>
> Are great northern beans the best to use? Also some have told me to
> soak them first. Others say not to since they will slow cook in the
> pot. Your thoughts?
>
> Anyone have any simple recipes you use for this which you might want
> to share? I thought about going online and checking out the recipe for
> The Senate Bean Soup. Anyone ever make that and if so, your thoughts
> on it compared to other versions?
>
> Thanks,
> Anthony
>
>
Cannelloni beans

Kent

"Anthony Ferrante" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news[email protected]..
>I am going to make some bean soup in my crockpot soon. This will be
> the first time for me.
>
> Are great northern beans the best to use? Also some have told me to
> soak them first. Others say not to since they will slow cook in the
> pot. Your thoughts?
>
> Anyone have any simple recipes you use for this which you might want
> to share? I thought about going online and checking out the recipe for
> The Senate Bean Soup. Anyone ever make that and if so, your thoughts
> on it compared to other versions?
>
> Thanks,
> Anthony
>
>
Cannelloni beans

Kent

"Anthony Ferrante" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news[email protected]..
>I am going to make some bean soup in my crockpot soon. This will be
> the first time for me.
>
> Are great northern beans the best to use? Also some have told me to
> soak them first. Others say not to since they will slow cook in the
> pot. Your thoughts?
>
> Anyone have any simple recipes you use for this which you might want
> to share? I thought about going online and checking out the recipe for
> The Senate Bean Soup. Anyone ever make that and if so, your thoughts
> on it compared to other versions?
>
> Thanks,
> Anthony

I'm not familiar with Senate Bean soup, but I have the recipe for bean soup
that was served in the House of Representatives. I suspect they may be the
same. I was a congressional intern many years, and I got the recipe at that
time. I have made it -- it's very easy, and very good. Legend has it that
it was Sam Rayburn's favorite and he insisted that it be available every
day. At any rate, it is popular enough with tourists that it is still on
the daily menu (or was at that time).

Here's the recipe:

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES BEAN SOUP


Cover 2 pounds of Number 1 white Michigan beans with cold water and soak
over night. Drain and re-cover with water. Add a smoked ham hock and
simmer slowly for about 4 hours until beans are tender. Add salt and pepper
to taste. Just before serving, bruise beans with large spoon or ladle,
enough to cloud. Recipe serves 6 persons.

--
MaryL

"Anthony Ferrante" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news[email protected]..
>I am going to make some bean soup in my crockpot soon. This will be
> the first time for me.
>
> Are great northern beans the best to use? Also some have told me to
> soak them first. Others say not to since they will slow cook in the
> pot. Your thoughts?
>
> Anyone have any simple recipes you use for this which you might want
> to share? I thought about going online and checking out the recipe for
> The Senate Bean Soup. Anyone ever make that and if so, your thoughts
> on it compared to other versions?
>
> Thanks,
> Anthony

I'm not familiar with Senate Bean soup, but I have the recipe for bean soup
that was served in the House of Representatives. I suspect they may be the
same. I was a congressional intern many years, and I got the recipe at that
time. I have made it -- it's very easy, and very good. Legend has it that
it was Sam Rayburn's favorite and he insisted that it be available every
day. At any rate, it is popular enough with tourists that it is still on
the daily menu (or was at that time).

Here's the recipe:

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES BEAN SOUP


Cover 2 pounds of Number 1 white Michigan beans with cold water and soak
over night. Drain and re-cover with water. Add a smoked ham hock and
simmer slowly for about 4 hours until beans are tender. Add salt and pepper
to taste. Just before serving, bruise beans with large spoon or ladle,
enough to cloud. Recipe serves 6 persons.

--
MaryL

"Billy" <Hereiam@hotmaildotcom> wrote in message
news:[email protected]..
> On Sat, 19 Apr 2008 23:49:27 -0400, Anthony Ferrante
> <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>>I am going to make some bean soup in my crockpot soon. This will be
>>the first time for me.
>
> Beans in a crock pot is a very tricky thing to cook.

The question is, why bother?

"Billy" <Hereiam@hotmaildotcom> wrote in message
news:[email protected]..
> On Sat, 19 Apr 2008 23:49:27 -0400, Anthony Ferrante
> <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>>I am going to make some bean soup in my crockpot soon. This will be
>>the first time for me.
>
> Beans in a crock pot is a very tricky thing to cook.

The question is, why bother?

"Kent" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected] ..
>
> "Anthony Ferrante" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news[email protected]..
>>I am going to make some bean soup in my crockpot soon. This will be
>> the first time for me.
>>
>> Are great northern beans the best to use? Also some have told me to
>> soak them first. Others say not to since they will slow cook in the
>> pot. Your thoughts?
>>
>> Anyone have any simple recipes you use for this which you might want
>> to share? I thought about going online and checking out the recipe for
>> The Senate Bean Soup. Anyone ever make that and if so, your thoughts
>> on it compared to other versions?
>>
>> Thanks,
>> Anthony
>>
>>
> Cannelloni beans
>
If it has to be one-bean soup, I still like navy best. With real ham, not a
greasy ham hock, carrots and celery finely diced, salt and pepper, maybe a
bay leaf if you like it.