This creamy soup is "NON-dairy".
"SANS-dairy".
Or you could say "dairy-FREE".
Really doesn't matter how you pose the phrase. Still creamy. Still NON-dairy.
"How???" you're asking...
My answer is it's the potatoes (make sure you have at least 2 different kinds if not all three!), all the beans, and then a slow/low simmer.
BONUS: it's even creamy (if not more so!) after coming out of a deep freeze in the freezer.
Enjoy!
1 pound bacon - cut into 1 inch pieces
1 VERY large or 2 medium onions - diced
12-15 potatoes - peeled and cubed into small pieces
POTATO NOTE: USE 2 or all 3 of the following: Red, Yellow Yukon, and/OR Russett
1 garlic bundle (8-10 cloves) - minced
1-2 cups ham - diced (OPTIONAL)
6 cups water
1/4 cup CHICKEN "Better Than Bullion"
3 teaspoons - SMOKED paprika
3 teaspoons Kosher salt
4 cans (15 oz. each) Great Northern Beans - drained and rinsed
OR
2 pounds DRY Great Northern Beans - pressure cooked - drained and rinsed
In an LARGE cooking pot brown the cut bacon until very crisp.
Remove and set aside.
DO NOT DRAIN BACON GREASE.
COOK diced onion in bacon grease on MED-HIGH until slightly brown and caramelized.
ADD cubed potatoes and stir mixture consistently - and be diligent!
NOTE: The potatoes tend to stick to the bottom of the pan!
Cook for 15-20 minutes.
When potatoes are tender, add minced garlic and turn heat down to a HIGH SIMMER; cook for 5 minutes stirring mixture consistently.
OPTIONAL ADDITION: diced ham
ADD: water, chicken "Better Than Bullion", smoked paprika, Kosher salt and Great Northern beans (remember to drain and rinse either way you did your beans!).
COOK at a low SIMMER for 30-45 minutes until beans and potatoes are tender.
ADD additional smoked paprika and Kosher salt to taste.
ADD your very crispy bacon!
Serve hot with toasted Natural Yeast Bread slices.
If by chance you have any leftovers, this soup freezes up beautifully! :0) Having leftovers doesn't happen very often any more! Recipes that used to feed our family twice feed us once! Someday I hope to have my freezer full of leftover soups and chilis to pull out after a crazy-busy day... I used to! For now I am grateful for a house full of happy (and hungry!) kids.
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| This recipe is a pantry cleaner for sure! It seems like I am always making this towards the end of the month when I am using up what I have left in the pantry... Hence the ambiguous numbers for the potatoes. No need to go to the store and buy 4-5 of each kind. WHAT DO YOU HAVE IN THE PANTRY? |
BREAD LINK: Baking with Natural Yeast - BASIC LOAF
Clink Link FOR: Mama Jo's Recipe Blog TABLE OF CONTENTS
A special acknowledgment for Preston:
THANK YOU for your amazing patience!
I think I promised to share this recipe with your mother nearly 2 (maybe 3???) years ago...
So glad to find out that this is still a favorite of your's!!!
