Lima Bean Soup With Ham Bits And Crisp Sage Recipes

Steps:

• 1. Soak beans overnight however you like, I prefer the stove top/oven method (see Soaked and Cooked Tender Beans). Drain and put aside. Now if you are in a hurry, 4 -15 ounce cans will do, just be sure to rinse well.
• 2. In a large stockpot, simmer the ham bone in the stock along with the bay leaves, thyme and oregano for at least a couple of hours, the longer the better. It is ready when the meat falls off. Remove bone and ham from the pot and place on a platter discarding the bone. When cool to touch, shred or tear the ham into bite size pieces. Put aside.
• 3. In a skillet, fry the bacon until fully cooked. Remove bacon with a slotted spoon and set aside. Add onion, celery, garlic and carrots to bacon grease and sauté over medium heat until onions are translucent. Remove vegetables with the slotted spoon and add to the stockpot.
• 4. Add the limas, ham to the pot and bring to a boil. Add the potatoes, bacon, salt and pepper to taste, and bring back to a boil. Skim off any foam that rises to the top. Reduce to a slow simmer; cover and cook on low for about 45 minutes or until beans are tender and begin to break down.
• 5. I serve it with cornbread...mmmm!
• 6. Soak and cook beans: I prepare dried beans two ways. When I think ahead I cook them in a slow cooker overnight with seasonings, on a warm setting and then a few hours the next day on low. Or if I forget, I use the stove-top/oven method that does the same in a couple of hours. The oven seems to work better than using just the stove, making a faster, tender pot of beans. Here's how: cover the washed beans with about 2-inches of water in a dutch oven with a tight fitting lid. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Add your seasonings and heat on the stove over high heat until the water just starts to simmer. Place in the oven and cook for 90 minutes. Stir and check the tenderness of the beans. If needed, cook another 15 minutes or until beans are tender for your recipe. Drain and you're ready to go.

Steps:

• Rinse and sort beans before adding to a pot of water and bringing to boil for 3 minutes.
• Set aside to soak for 1 hour.
• While beans are soaking, melt butter in large soup pot.
• Saute onions, carrots, and celery for 3-5 minutes.
• Add 8 cups water, bay leaf, salt and dash of pepper.
• Add halved potatoes.
• Drain lima beans and add to pot.
• Bring to a boil and then cover and reduce heat to medium low.
• Simmer for 1 1/2 to 2 hours or until beans are tender.
• Add cubed ham during last half hour.
• Mash the potato halves to thicken the stock.
• Salt and pepper to taste.

Steps:

• Put the beans in a Dutch oven. Cover with 2 inches of water (this is not the 4 cups water). Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Boil for 2 minutes. Remove from the heat. Let stand, covered, for 1 hour. Drain in a colander. Return the beans to the pot.
• Stir in 4 cups water, the onion, ham, garlic, and bay leaves. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat and simmer, covered, for 1 hour, stirring occasionally. Discard the bay leaves.
• Stir in the carrots and salt. Increase the heat to medium high and return to a simmer. Simmer, uncovered, for 20 minutes, or until the beans and carrots are tender.
• For a creamier texture, transfer about 2 cups soup to a medium bowl. Mash the soup with a potato masher. Stir the mashed soup into the soup in the pot. For a smoother soup, in a food processor or blender, process all the soup in batches (without mashing any beans first) until the desired consistency.
• Meanwhile, in a small nonstick skillet, heat the oil over medium heat, swirling to coat the bottom. Cook the sage for 1 to 2 minutes, or until crisp, stirring frequently. Transfer the sage to paper towels and drain. Crumble and set aside. Use to garnish the soup.
• Most individuals need about 4,700 milligrams of potassium daily to help keep blood pressure levels at a healthy level. A serving of this soup provides almost one-fourth of that amount, primarily because of the lima beans.
• Like other processed meats, ham usually is extremely high in sodium. When you shop, be sure to read product labels and select ham with the lowest amounts of sodium, saturated fat, and cholesterol. It doesn't take much ham to provide a lot of flavor; in this recipe, just over a tablespoon per serving does the job.
• (Per serving)
• Calories: 285
• Total fat: 2.0g
• Saturated: 0.5g
• Trans: 0.0g
• Polyunsaturated: 0.5g
• Monounsaturated: 1.0g
• Cholesterol: 5mg
• Sodium: 248mg
• Carbohydrates: 51g
• Fiber: 16g
• Sugars: 11g
• Protein: 17g
• Calcium: 91mg
• Potassium: 1,080mg
• 3 starch
• 1 vegetable
• 1 very lean meat

Steps:

• Place beans in a large pot; cover with 2 inches water. Bring to a boil. Remove from heat, cover, and let stand for 1 to 2 hours. Drain and rinse. Transfer beans to another container.
• Combine ham bone and 8 cups water in a large saucepan. Simmer over medium-low heat until remaining meat falls off the bone, about 2 hours. Remove and discard bone. Use a slotted spoon to transfer meat to a bowl.
• Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add celery and onion; cook and stir until onion is translucent, 7 to 10 minutes. Add cooked ham bone meat, lima beans, and diced ham. Reduce heat and simmer, adding additional water as needed, until soup is thickened to desired consistency, about 90 minutes.
• Stir carrots, salt, pepper, and parsley into the soup. Let simmer until carrots are soft, about 30 minutes more.

Steps:

• In a Dutch oven or soup kettle, combine the first 12 ingredients; bring to a boil over medium heat. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 25-35 minutes or until vegetables are tender. , Add cream; heat through but do not boil. Sprinkle with bacon just before serving.

Steps:

• In a large (6 quart or larger) electric casserole, like a Crock-Pot, combine all ingredients except the light cream. Cook on low heat for 7 hours or until done. Cool slightly.
• Add the cream. Stir and serve.

Steps:

• Bring 4 cups of water to a boil. Add dry lima beans, and boil for 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from heat, and allow the beans to sit, covered, for 1 to 2 hours to soften. Drain and rinse until water runs clear, discarding bean water.
• In a soup pot, saute vegetables in olive oil until onions and celery are translucent. Add lima beans, and saute for another 2 to 3 minutes.
• In the meantime, bring 4 cups of water to a boil. Add the vegetable bouillon to the boiling water, and stir until dissolved. Add broth to the sauteed vegetables and beans. Add remaining water, and allow soup to simmer over a low flame for 1 to 1 1/2 hours. Serve steaming hot.