Enjoy This 15 Bean Soup Recipe Without Compromising Your Diet

It's a cold, rainy day - one of those days where you feel cold to the bone. Even after bundling up in layers of warm clothing, you still can't shake off the cold. On such days, I crave a nice, hearty ham and bean soup. I absolutely love the fall and winter season because it gives me the chance to experiment with different types of soups, each with its own unique flavor and texture.  A delicious bowl of soup is the only thing I can think of to warm us up and make this day perfect. I also want to ensure that we don't compromise our weight loss journey.  We decided to make 15 bean soup. This amazing recipe is filling, nutritious, and perfect for our diet.

Brrr, it's cold outside and we're all stuck indoors. It's time for some warm bean soup!

When it comes to making soup, there are various types of beans to choose from. One of my favorite options is the 15 Bean Soup Mix. This, like its name, contains 15 different types of beans, making it colorful and fun. This mix can be found in most grocery stores and is quite easy to prepare. The beans have a unique blend of colors and sizes, including navy beans, dried lima beans, small split peas, and lentils. I always use the seasoning packet that comes with the mix, and I add spices to enhance the flavor. Overall, this soup recipe is simple to make and delicious to taste!

Soak the beans

To prepare the beans for cooking, start by setting the seasoning packet aside. Then, take a large bowl or stock pot, and add the beans to it. Fill the bowl with water and let the beans soak for at least 8 hours. Soak them overnight, so they are ready to cook the next day.  TIP:  I put them in the water before I go to bed then they are ready the next day.

Once the beans have soaked overnight, drain the water and give them a quick rinse. You may notice that the outer skin of some of the lima beans comes off during soaking. Do not worry, just discard the skin, but not the beans.

When making ham and bean soup, adding a ham bone can really boost the flavor. But don’t worry if you don’t have one on hand! We didn’t have a ham bone in our freezer, so we just picked up a 2-pound boneless ham and diced it up, If you’re looking for a smoky flavor, smoked ham hocks are an option too. Enjoy your soup-making adventure!

Tip to add great flavor to the ham and bean soup

For a really flavorful soup, sauté the ham and onions with cumin, the seasoning packet from the beans, chicken bouillon, some salt, and a little pepper directly in the stock pot.

We have recently discovered bourbon salt and have been using it in many of our recipes. It adds an incredible taste to almost anything it's used in.

After sautéing the ham, onion, and spices, add the beans, chicken broth, and water to the stockpot. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cook uncovered for about 3 hours.

Overall, the 15-bean soup is so good and will warm you up when that extra sweater won't quite do the job!!!

No better comfort food than HAM AND BEAN SOUP!

We enjoy having this soup with saltine crackers, maybe because it reminds me of my childhood. As we grew up on a dairy farm, our meals were always very filling, and we never wasted food. We would have bean soup one night and then, the next day, my mom would thicken the remaining soup and serve it over white bread. One of my favorite ways to have bean soup is to treat it like a "gravy." We always buy Wonder Bread and pour the thickened soup gravy over it.

Bean soup is a great dish that can easily be frozen for another day and a really quick meal.

1. Measure the soup - 2 cups is one serving.
2. Place each serving in an individual freezer container or freezer bag.
3. Store them in the freezer.
4. Reheat a single portion whenever you want to enjoy it on a cold day.

BONUS: This is low in calories and high in fiber, and it's really good!!

Budget-friendly

Imagine treating yourself to several mouth-watering, budget-friendly meals that are not only filling but also leave you with a warm and contented feeling. With just under ten dollars, you can make this a reality! Don't forget to explore some of our other soup recipes we have reimagined to be diet-friendly.

TIPS:

1. Use low-fat chicken broth or vegetable broth.
2. Purchase a good quality Chicken Bouillon.
3. Measure everything.

Here are some other recipes we thought you might also like:

• Black Beans and Rice - This easy Black Beans and Rice with Ham dish is loaded with flavor and spices for a nutritious and delicious main or side dish.
• Grilled Veggie Kabobs - The freshness of the veggies with the zippy marinade and smoke from the grill makes a perfect summer meal.
• White Bean Chili - beans, green chilies, and warm flavors like cumin. It is low in calories, easy to make, and filling.
• Stuffed Pork Chops - Creamy cheese, ham, and herbs fill a perfectly seared pork chop.
• Soup Season - Roundup of many of our soup recipes.