How to Make a Hearty and Delicious Navy Bean Soup at Home

Ingredients:

• 1 pound navy beans, rinsed and soaked overnight
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 carrots, chopped
• 2 celery stalks, chopped
• 1 ham hock or 2 slices of bacon
• 6 cups of chicken broth
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 tsp thyme
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1 tbsp olive oil

Instructions:

1. Drain and rinse the soaked navy beans and set aside.
2. Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat.
3. Add the chopped onion and garlic to the pot and sauté for 5 minutes or until the onion is soft.
4. Add the chopped carrots and celery to the pot and sauté for another 5 minutes.
5. Add the ham hock or bacon to the pot and sauté for another 5 minutes.
6. Add the chicken broth, navy beans, bay leaves, thyme, salt, and black pepper to the pot and bring to a boil.
7. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 2-3 hours, stirring occasionally, until the beans are tender.
8. After 2-3 hours, remove the bay leaves and the ham hock or bacon.
9. Use an immersion blender or transfer the soup to a blender and blend until smooth.
10. Serve the navy bean soup hot with some crusty bread on the side.