Minnesota Heartland ELEVEN BEAN Soup

This 11-bean soup mix is the original that soup mix that started it all! Add Polish or chicken sausage for great flavor. Vegetarians can make this 11-bean soup without the meats or may also want to add 1 cup of barbeque sauce for a wonderful substitution.

Serves: 10-12
Preparation Time: 30 minutes
Cooking Time: 6 hours

With French bread and a green salad, this 11-bean soup mix makes a hearty dinner for a crowd!

11-Bean Soup Mix Ingredients:
Dried beans, peas, lentils, and bouquet garni of herbs. No added salt, preservatives or MSG.

Gluten-Free Item

Recipe Additions:
12 cups water
2 (plus) cloves of garlic, minced
1 tablespoon salt
freshly ground pepper
1 smoked ham hock (can substitute smoked turkey leg)
1 28-ounce can Italian tomatoes, chopped
1 pound smoked kielbasa sausage, sliced on a diagonal (can substitute chicken sausage)
2 cups celery, sliced
2 cups onion, chopped
1 or 2 whole chicken breasts, sliced into small pieces while raw or slightly frozen
1 green pepper, chopped

11-Bean Soup Recipe Directions:
•Rinse, drain and pick over beans.
•Place beans in an 8 quart pot with water, salt, ham hock or turkey leg and bouquet garni.
•Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer, covered, for 3 or more hours.
•Add tomatoes, onions, celery, garlic and green pepper to pot.
•Bring back to a boil, reduce heat and simmer, covered, for 1 and 1/2 hours.
•Add pepper to taste, sausage and chicken and simmer, uncovered, for 40 minutes.
•Remove bouquet garni before serving.

Vegetarian Soup Recipe Variation:
To make Minnesota Heartland 11 Bean Soup without meat but still get that rich smokey flavor start the soup with 2 quarts of water instead of 3 and leave out the ham hock. Proceed with recipe adding in the all the vegetables in the second step. For the final hour of cooking, leave out the sausage and add a cup of barbecue sauce. A good barbecue sauce makes a nice substitute for the pork in traditional "pork and beans" dishes.

Adding 1/2 cup of rice is another option for the last 45 minutes, but go with 10 cups broth to start the recipe.

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Slow Cooker Recipe Directions:
Recommended slow cooker: 6-7 quart size

For this all day cooker, we suggest cutting up all the vegetables and meats the night before or in the morning and refrigerate them in large plastic container so they are ready to add to the soup at the end of the day.

•Rinse, drain and pick over beans.
•Place beans into bowl of slow cooker.
•Add the bouquet garni, ham hock, and 12 cups water. (Leave out the salt.)
•Cover and cook on HIGH 6-8 hours.
•Add tomatoes, onion, green pepper, garlic, diced sausage and cut up chicken. Stir well.
•Cover and cook on HIGH 1 1/2 to 2 more hours, or transfer to the stove to cook more quickly.
•Serve this thick and hearty soup with crusty bread and enjoy.


Nutrition Facts

Serving Size: About 1 Tbsp. (26g) Dry Mix
Prepared Serving Size: About 1 Cup
Serving Per Container: About 20

Amount per Serving Mix Prepared
Calories 70 170
Calories from Fat 45

% Daily Value**
Total Fat 0g* 0% 8%
Saturated Fat 0g 0% 8%
Trans Fat 0g
Cholesterol 0mg 0% 8%
Sodium 10mg 0% 33%
Total Carbohydrate 16g 5% 8%
Dietary Fiber 8g 32% 36%
Sugars 1g
Protein 6g

Vitamin A 2% 8%
Vitamin C 0% 25%
Calcium 2% 4%
Iron 10% 15%
* Amount in Mix
** Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.