Louisiana Hayride Kitchen Bean Soup

Total Time: 4 hrs 40 mins Preparation Time: 30 mins Cook Time: 4 hrs 10 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 7-8
• 1 lb dried great northern beans (2.5 cups northern beans or 2.25 cups navy beans) or 1 lb navy beans (2.5 cups northern beans or 2.25 cups navy beans)
• 5 cups water
• 1/2 lb ham, cut into small chunks or 1/2 lb bacon or 1/2 lb lamb, diced
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 -3 stalks celery, chopped (2/3-1 cup)
• 1 teaspoon garlic salt (or to taste)
• 5 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
• 1/4 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
• 1 teaspoon pepper (or to taste)

Recipe

• rinse and sort beans, place in a large pan and cover with water.
• begin to cook.
• saute meat, onion, celery, garlic salt in oil until tender, but do not brown.
• add the vegetables to beans; bring to a boil.
• put lid on pot, lower heat, and cook until beans are done (4 hours), stirring occasionally (if necessary, add more water while cooking).
• add the parsley, salt, and pepper, and cook for 15-20 minutes.
• remove half the beans, mash then return to pot stirring gently to thicken soup.