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Close up of Garlic & Bacon Brothy White Bean Soup with fresh herbs

Garlic & Bacon Brothy Beans

Garlic & Bacon Brothy White Bean Soup – A comforting, one-pot soup featuring tender white beans simmered with crispy bacon, aromatic garlic, and fresh herbs. Perfect for cozying up on a chilly evening!
5 from 3 votes
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Total Time 1 hour 20 minutes
Course Soup
Servings 6
Calories 220 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cups dried great northern beans
  • 6 cups chicken broth
  • 1 bulb garlic peeled
  • 1 shallot peeled and split in half
  • 1 thumb ginger
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 sprig rosemary
  • 1 sprig thyme
  • 1 sprig sage
  • 2 strips bacon cooked and chopped
  • Salt & pepper
  • Crusty bread

Instructions
 

Soak the Beans

  • Add dried beans to a mixing bowl and cover with cold water.
  • Place the bowl in the refrigerator and let the beans soak overnight. This will reduce cooking time and make the beans easier to digest.
  • When ready to cook, drain the beans.

Prepare Bacon, Garlic, and Shallot

  • Cook the bacon in a frying pan over medium-high heat until crisp, about a few minutes per side.
  • Transfer the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate to drain.
  • Peel the garlic cloves and the shallot.
  • Cut the shallot in half.

Simmer

  • Pour chicken broth into a large pot and bring to a boil.
  • Add the drained beans, peeled garlic cloves, peeled shallot, a thumb-sized piece of ginger, rosemary sprig, sage leaves, bay leaves, and thyme sprig.
  • Reduce heat to medium and simmer for 40 minutes.
  • Add the chopped cooked bacon and continue simmering for an additional 20 minutes.
  • Check the beans for tenderness and season with salt and pepper as needed.
  • If the beans are not yet tender, continue simmering, checking every 10 minutes until done.

Finish & Serve

  • Carefully remove the herbs, shallot, and ginger from the pot, leaving the garlic cloves and bacon.
  • Serve the soup immediately with crusty bread.

Notes

  • Canned Bean Method: Using dried beans requires planning but yields a richer texture and flavor. If using canned beans, reduce the cooking time and add them near the end of simmering to prevent them from becoming too soft.
  • Quick-Soak Bean Method :If you're short on time, you can use the quick-soak method. Bring the beans and water to a boil for 2 minutes, then let them sit, covered, for 1 hour. Drain and proceed with the recipe.
  • The nutritional values are estimated and should be adjusted based on the specific brands and quantities used. Crusty bread will add additional calories and nutrients, which should be factored in separately.

Nutrition

Calories: 220kcalCarbohydrates: 30gProtein: 13gFat: 6gSaturated Fat: 2gFiber: 8gSugar: 2g
Keyword brothy bean soup
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