Indulge in a hearty and patriotic culinary experience with the U.S. Senate Bean Soup, a classic American dish that has graced the tables of senators and commoners alike. This wholesome soup, also known as Senate Bean and Bacon Soup, boasts a rich history dating back to the early 1900s. While the original recipe remains a closely guarded secret, many variations have emerged, each offering a unique twist on this comforting dish. From the traditional version brimming with tender beans, savory bacon, and aromatic vegetables to modern interpretations featuring a medley of herbs and seasonings, the U.S. Senate Bean Soup promises a symphony of flavors that will warm your soul. Discover the secrets behind this iconic soup and embark on a culinary journey through the corridors of American history with our comprehensive collection of recipes.
Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!
SENATE BEAN SOUP (THE OFFICIAL RECIPE)
Steps:
- Rinse the navy beans and pick over. Place beans into large pot with two quarts of cold water and the ham hock. Bring just to a boil, then lower to a simmer and cook for approximately three hours in a partially-covered pot, stirring occasionally, until the beans have fully softened.
- Remove ham hocks and set aside to cool. Meanwhile, lightly brown the onion in butter and add to the soup. Pull meat from the ham hocks and return to soup. Stir. Before serving, bring to a boil and season with salt and pepper.
CLASSIC AMERICAN SENATE BEAN SOUP
Steps:
- Gather the ingredients.
- Soak the beans in water overnight. Make sure the beans are covered with a couple of inches of water, as they can expand somewhat.
- Drain the beans.
- In a heavy-bottomed soup pot, combine the vegetable stock , the drained beans, and the ham hock. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer .
- Simmer, covered, for 2 hours, occasionally skimming off any scum that forms on the surface.
- In a separate saucepan, heat the butter over a low-to-medium heat.
- Add the onion, celery, and garlic to the butter and cook for 2 to 3 minutes or until the onion is slightly translucent, stirring more or less continuously.
- Add the wine and cook for another minute or two or until the wine seems to have reduced by about half.
- Add the onion mixture, parsley, and the potato flakes to the soup and simmer for another hour or until the beans are tender.
- Remove the ham hock, pull the meat off the bone, and chop it up.
- Return the chopped meat to the soup. If necessary, add more stock or water to the soup to adjust the thickness.
- Season to taste with kosher salt and white pepper .
- Serve right away and enjoy!
Nutrition Facts : Calories 219 kcal, Carbohydrate 26 g, Cholesterol 24 mg, Fiber 7 g, Protein 8 g, SaturatedFat 5 g, Sodium 1081 mg, Sugar 4 g, Fat 8 g, ServingSize 8 Servings (8 portions), UnsaturatedFat 0 g
SENATE BEAN SOUP
Provided by Food Network Kitchen
Time 2h55m
Yield 8 servings
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Put the beans in a large bowl and cover with about 3 times their volume of cold water. Soak overnight in a cool place.
- Drain the beans and transfer to a large pot or Dutch oven. Add 10 cups water and the ham. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, then reduce the heat to low and cook until the beans are tender, about 1 hour, 30 minutes. Transfer the ham to a plate to cool slightly, then remove the bone, if used, and dice the meat. Return the meat to the pot.
- Meanwhile, cover the potato with water in a saucepan and season with salt. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce the heat and simmer until the potato is fork-tender, 20 to 25 minutes. Drain the potato; transfer to a bowl with the milk and mash with a potato masher or fork until smooth. Add the mashed potato to the bean soup and stir until combined.
- Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion, celery, garlic and parsley and cook until the vegetables are translucent, 7 to 10 minutes. Add the vegetable mixture to the soup, reduce the heat to low and cook 1 hour, adding up to 2 more cups water if the soup is too thick. Season with salt and pepper.
U.S. SENATE BEAN SOUP
Chock-full of ham, beans and celery, this hearty soup makes a wonderful meal at any time of year. Freeze the bone from a holiday ham until you're ready to make soup. Plus, once prepared, it freezes well for a great make-ahead supper! -Rosemarie Forcum White Stone, Virginia
Provided by Taste of Home
Time 4h15m
Yield 10 servings (2-1/2 quarts).
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Rinse and sort beans. Place beans in a Dutch oven or soup kettle; add water to cover by 2 in. Bring to a boil; boil for 2 minutes. Remove from the heat; cover and let stand for 1 to 4 hours or until beans are softened., Drain and rinse, discarding liquid. In a large Dutch oven or soup kettle, place the beans, ham bone or hocks and 3 quarts water. Bring to boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 2 hours., Skim fat if necessary. Add the onions, garlic, celery, parsley, potatoes, salt and pepper; simmer 1 hour longer., Set aside ham bones until cool enough to handle. Remove meat from bones; discard bones. Cut meat into bite-sized pieces and return to Dutch oven. Heat through. Sprinkle with parsley or chives.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 229 calories, Fat 3g fat (1g saturated fat), Cholesterol 12mg cholesterol, Sodium 83mg sodium, Carbohydrate 37g carbohydrate (5g sugars, Fiber 10g fiber), Protein 14g protein.
THE FAMOUS SENATE RESTAURANT BEAN SOUP
Whatever uncertainties may exist in the Senate of the United States, one thing is sure: Bean Soup is on the menu of the Senate Restaurant every day. The origins of this culinary decree has been lost in antiquity, but there are several oft-repeated legends. One story has it that Senator Fred Thomas Dubois of Idaho, who served in the Senate from 1901 to 1907 and sat as chairman of the committee that supervised the Senate Restaurant, gaveled through a resolution requiring that the bean soup be on the menu every day. Another account attributes the bean soup mandate to Senator Knute Nelson of Minnesota, who expressed his fondness for it in 1903. In any case, Senators, and their guests, are always assured of this hearty, nourishing dish. They know they can rely upon its delightful flavor and epicurean qualities. (Recipe from the Honourable and Mrs. John D. Rockefeller, IV, U.S. Senator, West Virginia.)
Provided by Millereg
Categories Ham
Time 3h50m
Yield 8 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Take two pounds of small Michigan navy beans, wash and run through hot water until beans are white again.
- Put on the fire with four quarts of hot water.
- Then add smoked ham hocks, boil slowly approximately 3 hours in covered pot.
- Braise one chopped onion in a little butter, and when light brown put it into the soup.
- Season with salt and pepper then serve.
- Do not add salt until ready to serve.
U. S. SENATE BEAN SOUP
Make and share this U. S. Senate Bean Soup recipe from Food.com.
Provided by MizzNezz
Categories Beans
Time 4h10m
Yield 10 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Put beans and enough water to cover in pot.
- Bring to a boil, and boil for 2 minutes.
- Remove from the heat and soak for 1 hour.
- Drain and rinse beans.
- In large pot, put beans, ham bone, and 3 quarts water.
- Bring to a boil.
- Reduce heat,cover and simmer for 2 hours.
- Add next 5 ingredients.
- Add salt and pepper to taste.
- Simmer for 1 hour.
- Remove hambone.
- Remove meat from bone and cut in small pieces.
- Return to pot.
- Heat through.
U.S SENATE BEAN SOUP
The U.S Senate has come to stand for many things in our Republic. One is its bean soup. There is also a bean soup served in the House of Representatives but it lacks the prestige and taste of that of the Upper House. Senate Bean Soup can be served on any occassion that warrants a hot,steamy,filling and thick soup such as an...
Provided by billy haze
Categories Soups
Time 4h
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- 1. Always wash beans and pick over beans before putting them to soak.Discard any beans that are discolored as well as any pebbles or floating particles. There are 2 ways to soak dried beans before cooking. The least complicated-if you have time -is to soak them overnight in water to cover 2 to 3 inches above beans,to allow for absorption.Drain beans,discard water and cook.
- 2. If time is a factor,the beans may be quick-soaked be covering them with water and bringing to a boil for 2 minutes . Set aside and allow to soak for 1 hour.Blanching beans for 2 minutes and soaking for 1 hour is the equivalent of 6 to 8 hours soaking.
- 3. Drain beans and place them with the ham in a large (5 qt) soup kettle.Add 3 quarts of cold water.Bring to a boil,reduce heat and simmer over low heat for 2 hours.Skim if necessary.
- 4. In the meantime chop the onions,garlic,celery and parley.When beans and meat have cooked for 2 hours,add the chopped vegetables and the potato to the pot.Simmer for 1 hour longer or until beans are tender.
- 5. Season with salt and pepper.
- 6. Remove the bones and meat from the soup.Dice the meat into 1/2 inch pieces and return to pot.Discard the bones,Reheat to serve
- 7. Final Step-This is a hearty,robust dish and so it should have hearty,robust service-from the pot at the table,ladled into heated soup bowls.Garnish with snippets of parsley or chives.
- 8. THE HOUSE VERSION-Only beans,ham hock,and seasoning.The beans are bruised witha spoon or ladle to barely cloud before serving
SENATE NAVY BEAN SOUP
I can't read my handwritten recipe card that this was written on because of all the spills that landed on it whilst making this delicious, comforting soup. I clipped this from a newspaper (or magazine?) years ago and my husband has since taken over the task of making this soup from any hambone that he can acquire. I do hope you enjoy this as much as we do. :)
Provided by rsgunnell
Categories Ham
Time 5h
Yield 2 quarts, 10 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Wash beans, drain then soak in large pot.
- For quick soak method combine beans & 6 cups water. Heat to boiling; boil 2 minutes. Remove from heat. Cover, let stand 1 hour OR.
- Soak beans overnight.
- In large frypan melt butter, saute celery, onion and garlic until tender.
- Drain beans, reserve liquid.
- Into saucepan add beans, reserved liquid and enough water to make 10 cups, ham bone or hock, salt and pepper plus saute veggies from frypan.
- Heat to boiling, reduce to low.
- Cover and simmer 3 hours or until beans are tender and soup thickens.
- Remove meat from bone and add to soup.
- Remove a cup or two of beans, mash and return to make a thicker soup if desired.
U. S. SENATE BEAN SOUP
I lived in Richmond Va. for 16 years, and on the weekends, would go into D.C. I loved to go through the U.S. Capital. The U.S. Senate has came to stand for many things in the Republic. One is its bean soup. Cookes ladle out gallons of 8-oz servings each day in the 11 dining rooms on the Hill.Senate bean soup can be served on any...
Provided by donna clark
Categories Other Main Dishes
Time 3h30m
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- 1. Place beans in a pot of cold water and soak overnight, drain the beans and replace the water to cook.
- 2. Using a 5-quart pot , place the drained beans in with 3-quarts of cold water.Bring the water to a boil , reduce heat and simmer over low heat for 2 hours along with the ham bone.
- 3. In the meantime chop the onions, garlic, celery, and parsley. When the beans and meat has cooked for 2 hours , add the chopped vegatables and the potatos to the pot. Simmer for one hour longer or until beans are tender.
- 4. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Remove the bones and meat from the soup, Dice the meat into 1/2 inch pieces and return to the pot. Discard the bones. Garnish with snippets of parsley or chives when ready to ladle into bowls.
Tips:
- Use dried beans for the best flavor and texture. Dried beans are more flavorful than canned beans and they hold their shape better when cooked. If you're short on time, you can use canned beans, but be sure to rinse them well before using.
- Soak the beans overnight before cooking. This will help to reduce the cooking time and make the beans more digestible. If you don't have time to soak the beans overnight, you can quick-soak them by boiling them for 1 minute, then removing them from the heat and letting them soak for 1 hour.
- Use a variety of vegetables in your soup. This will add flavor and nutrients to the soup. Some good vegetables to use include carrots, celery, onions, potatoes, and tomatoes.
- Use a good quality ham bone or hock. This will add a lot of flavor to the soup. If you don't have a ham bone or hock, you can use a smoked ham shank or a piece of bacon.
- Season the soup to taste. Add salt, pepper, and other seasonings to taste. You can also add a bay leaf or two for extra flavor.
- Serve the soup hot with crusty bread or crackers.
Conclusion:
U.S. Senate Bean Soup is a delicious and hearty soup that is perfect for a cold winter day. It is made with dried beans, vegetables, ham, and seasonings. The soup is easy to make and can be tailored to your own taste. You can add more or less vegetables, ham, or seasonings as you like. U.S. Senate Bean Soup is a great way to use up leftover ham and it is also a good source of protein, fiber, and vitamins.
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