NAVY BEAN SOUP

Navy Bean Soup image

Provided by Food Network Kitchen

Time 3h15m

Yield 8 servings

Number Of Ingredients 10

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1 pound navy beans, picked over, rinsed and drained
10 sprigs parsley
2 sprigs fresh thyme or rosemary
1 bay leaf
2 large smoked ham hocks, about 1 1/2 pounds
1 medium carrot, coarsely chopped
1 medium onion, coarsely chopped
1 clove garlic, coarsely chopped
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
Butter for garnish

Steps:

Place the beans in a large saucepan and cover with cold water by about 2 inches. Bring to a boil and lower the heat to a simmer. Cook for 5 minutes; remove from the heat, cover, and let sit for one hour. Drain and reserve. Tie the parsley, thyme, and bay leaf together with kitchen twine.
In a large soup pot or Dutch oven combine the beans, herb bundle, hocks, carrots, onions, and garlic with 8 cups water. Bring to a boil, cover, and adjust the heat so the soup cooks at a gentle simmer. Cook until the beans and hock are completely tender, about 1-1/2 hours.
Turn off the heat and remove the hocks. Cool slightly. Remove the meat from the hocks, discarding the bones, fat and skin. Cut the meat into small cubes. Remove the herb bundle and discard.
Puree about 3 cups of the beans with a bit of the liquid in a blender. (For a smoother soup puree all the beans.) Stir the puree and diced meat into the soup. Heat the soup and adjust the seasoning as needed with salt and pepper. To serve divide the soup among heated bowls. Place a small pat of butter on top each soup and serve.