Mom’s Classic Navy Bean Soup Recipe
This classic Mom’s Navy Beans recipe delivers a hearty and comforting white bean soup that is perfect for cozy meals. Featuring slowly simmered dried navy beans combined with sautéed aromatic vegetables and herbs, this dish brings homestyle flavors and a creamy texture without the need for cream. Its versatility allows you to tailor the seasoning to different culinary traditions, making it both nourishing and adaptable.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes plus 8 hours soaking
- Cook Time: 4 hours simmering
- Total Time: 4 hours 10 minutes plus 8 hours soaking
- Yield: About 6 servings 1x
- Category: Soups
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Gluten Free
Ingredients
Scale
Beans and Vegetables
- 16 oz dried navy beans or other white beans
- 1 large yellow onion, chopped into bite size pieces
- 2 large carrots, chopped into bite size pieces
- 2 stalks celery, chopped into bite size pieces
- 2 cloves garlic, crushed
Seasonings and Oil
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 4 sprigs thyme tied together, or 1/2 tsp dried thyme
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Soak the Beans: Add the dried white beans to a large pot and cover them with water by 1 inch. Allow the beans to soak for 8 hours to soften. For a quicker method, you may use a quick soak technique as preferred.
- Sauté Vegetables: Heat olive oil in a large soup or stock pot over medium-high heat. Once hot, add chopped onion, carrot, and celery. Sauté for 6-8 minutes until vegetables are softened and fragrant, stirring occasionally.
- Combine and Simmer: Drain and rinse the soaked beans using a colander. Add the beans to the pot with sautéed vegetables, stirring to combine. Add the thyme sprigs or dried thyme, crushed garlic, and enough fresh water to cover the beans by 1 inch.
- Cook the Beans: Bring the pot to a boil, then cover and reduce the heat to a low simmer. Cook for approximately 4 hours, or until the beans are tender but not mushy. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking.
- Season and Serve: Remove thyme bundles and season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Serve the hearty navy bean soup hot, ideally accompanied by crusty bread for dipping.
Notes
- This soup is highly versatile; you can tailor the seasoning to suit different cuisines such as French with thyme and tarragon, Mexican with cumin, or Italian with Italian herbs.
- For a meaty variation, add fresh franks or chicken to the pot and cook for an additional 20 minutes until warmed through.
- If using a slow cooker, cook on high for 4 hours. If using an Instant Pot, cook on high pressure manually for 20 minutes followed by a 10-minute Natural Pressure Release.
Keywords: navy beans, white bean soup, hearty soup, slow simmered beans, homestyle soup, vegetable soup, healthy soup, easy soup recipe
Find it online: https://biteandenjoy.com/moms-classic-navy-bean-soup-recipe/
