Easy Mixed Bean Soup

Beans are high in fiber and vitamins and minerals and they are also a great source of plant-based protein. Start this easy soup the night before by soaking the dried beans then let it simmer for a few hours for a delicious and flavor-rich soup that will fill you up.

Ingredients for mixed bean soup

• 1 lb bag 16 Bean Soup Mix or similar (discard flavor packet)
• 1 teaspoon olive oil
• 1 small onion, finely diced
• 1 garlic clove, finely minced
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon cumin
• 1 tablespoon Italian Seasoning
• 1 whole bay leaf
• 1 lb Ham bone with some meat, trimmed of excess fat
• 8 cups water

Makes 10

Directions for mixed bean soup

1. 1 Day ahead: Rinse beans with water and add to large soup pot. Cover beans with water and let soak overnight.
2. After soaking overnight, drain and rinse beans.
3. Add 1 tsp of olive oil to a saute pan over medium-high heat. Add in onion and garlic and saute for about 3-5 minutes until onions are tender and fragrant. Add to the pot with the beans.
4. Add salt, cumin, Italian Seasoning, bay leaf and ham bone to the soup pot along with 8 cups of water.
5. Bring to a gentle boil over medium-high heat then reduce heat and simmer, with lid cracked for 2-3 hours.
6. Remove ham bone and if any meat has fallen from the bone, remove it and slice it into bite sized pieces. Return meat to the soup and discard the bone.
7. Remove bay leaf and serve hot.

Tips: There are many types of bean soup mixes, any dried multi-bean variety will work for this recipe. Many come with a flavor packet that contains preservatives and additives, which you will not need for this recipe, discard it.
Notes: A ham bone is simply the remaining bone of a ham roast with some meat still remaining. You can get one from your butcher or save one after a special gathering or holiday. If you aren't ready to make soup you can wrap it in a freezer safe plastic bag and freeze it for another time. If you don't have a ham bone on hand you can always add diced ham.
Carb Info: When a recipe has more than 5 grams of fiber per serving you can subtract that amount from the Total Carbohydrate. Therefore, this recipe has 20.3 grams Net Carbs per 1 cup serving.