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Ham & Bean Soup

Ingredients

  • 1 Tablespoon garlic, chopped
  • 1 medium onion, minced
  • 1 Tablespoon canola oil
  • 3 stalks celery, chopped
  • 2 large carrots, diced
  • 2 15-ounce can beans or 4 cups cooked beans
  • 6 cups low-sodium broth
  • ½ pound cooked ham, chopped
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper

Directions

  1. Wash hands with warm soapy water for 20 seconds.
  2. In a large soup pot, combine garlic, onion, and oil. Cook for 5-7 minutes or until onion begins to brown.
  3. Add celery and carrots. Cook for another 3-5 minutes until celery begins to soften.
  4. Add beans, broth, ham, and black pepper.
  5. Bring to a boil then reduce heat to medium.
  6. Cover with lid and cook for 20-30 minutes or longer. 
  7. Serve hot with whole grain bread.

Makes 6 servings

Note: If using dried beans, please use one of the cooking methods below.

Cooking Dried Beans

  1. Wash hands in warm soapy water.
  2. Rinse beans in cool water, then follow one of the methods below.

Quick Cook Method

  1. Put the beans in a large pot and add 12 cups of water.
  2. Bring to a boil and boil for 2 minutes, then remove from heat. Cover pot and let sit for 1 hour.
  3. Discard soaking water and add fresh water to cover the beans. Return to heat and simmer for 1-3 hours, adding water if needed.

Overnight Method

  1. Put the beans in a large pot and add 6 cups of water.
  2. Let soak for 6 or more hours in the refrigerator.
  3. Discard soaking water and add fresh water to cover the bean. Bring to a boil then simmer for 1-3 hours, adding water if needed.

Crockpot Method

  1. Put the beans in a crockpot and add 6 cups of water.
  2. Cook on high 5-8 hours or until beans are tender.
  3. Discard soaking water.

Instant Pot Pressure Cooker Method

  1. Soak beans overnight or for several hours in the fridge.
  2. Rinse and discard cracked or split beans and pour into Instant Pot.
  3. Add water (about twice as much water as beans, at least 1-2 c. in a pressure cooker).
  4. Close and seal pressure cooker.
  5. Cook on manual pressure for 25-30 minutes.
  6. Release pressure when finished cooking. Be careful as hot steam escapes.
  7. Drain beans in a colander.

CNP Meat Sauce Chili

Ingredients

  • 2 cups CNP Meat Sauce, frozen or thawed
  • 4 cups kidney or pinto beans cooked, or (2 15 ounce cans, drained)
  • 2-3 Tablespoons chili powder
  • ½ cup water, as needed

Directions

  1. Wash hands with warm soapy water for 20 seconds.
  2. In a saucepan, heat CNP Meat Sauce until thawed, if using frozen.
  3. Add beans and chili powder.
  4. Heat through and serve.

Makes 6 cups | 4 servings

Note: If using dried beans, please use one of the cooking methods below.

Cooking Dried Beans

  1. Wash hands in warm soapy water.
  2. Rinse beans in cool water, then follow one of the methods below.

Quick Cook Method

  1. Put the beans in a large pot and add 12 cups of water.
  2. Bring to a boil and boil for 2 minutes, then remove from heat. Cover pot and let sit for 1 hour.
  3. Discard soaking water and add fresh water to cover the beans. Return to heat and simmer for 1-3 hours, adding water if needed.

Overnight Method

  1. Put the beans in a large pot and add 6 cups of water.
  2. Let soak for 6 or more hours in the refrigerator.
  3. Discard soaking water and add fresh water to cover the bean. Bring to a boil then simmer for 1-3 hours, adding water if needed.

Crockpot Method

  1. Put the beans in a crockpot and add 6 cups of water.
  2. Cook on high 5-8 hours or until beans are tender.
  3. Discard soaking water.

Instant Pot Pressure Cooker Method

  1. Soak beans overnight or for several hours in the fridge.
  2. Rinse and discard cracked or split beans and pour into Instant Pot.
  3. Add water (about twice as much water as beans, at least 1-2 c. in a pressure cooker).
  4. Close and seal pressure cooker.
  5. Cook on manual pressure for 25-30 minutes.
  6. Release pressure when finished cooking. Be careful as hot steam escapes.
  7. Drain beans in a colander.

Crockpot Bean Soup

Ingredients

  • 4 cups cooked beans of your choice*
  • 6 cups low-sodium broth
  • 1 Tablespoon garlic, chopped
  • ½ large onion, minced
  • 3 stalks celery, chopped
  • ½ pound cooked ham, chopped
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper

Directions

  1. Wash hands with warm soapy water for 20 seconds.
  2. Add all ingredients to the crockpot.
  3. Cover with lid and cook on high for 2-4 hours. Serve warm.

Makes 6 servings

*Our recipe video uses 2 cups navy beans and 2 cups chickpeas.
Note: If using dried beans, please use one of the cooking methods below.

Cooking Dried Beans

  1. Wash hands in warm soapy water.
  2. Rinse beans in cool water, then follow one of the methods below.

Quick Cook Method

  1. Put the beans in a large pot and add 12 cups of water.
  2. Bring to a boil and boil for 2 minutes, then remove from heat. Cover pot and let sit for 1 hour.
  3. Discard soaking water and add fresh water to cover the beans. Return to heat and simmer for 1-3 hours, adding water if needed.

Overnight Method

  1. Put the beans in a large pot and add 6 cups of water.
  2. Let soak for 6 or more hours in the refrigerator.
  3. Discard soaking water and add fresh water to cover the bean. Bring to a boil then simmer for 1-3 hours, adding water if needed.

Crockpot Method

  1. Put the beans in a crockpot and add 6 cups of water.
  2. Cook on high 5-8 hours or until beans are tender.
  3. Discard soaking water.

Instant Pot Pressure Cooker Method

  1. Soak beans overnight or for several hours in the fridge.
  2. Rinse and discard cracked or split beans and pour into Instant Pot.
  3. Add water (about twice as much water as beans, at least 1-2 c. in a pressure cooker).
  4. Close and seal pressure cooker.
  5. Cook on manual pressure for 25-30 minutes.
  6. Release pressure when finished cooking. Be careful as hot steam escapes.
  7. Drain beans in a colander.

Stuffed Kabocha Squash

Ingredients

Pancakes

  • 1 kabocha squash (or other winter squash, such as acorn squash, pie pumpkin, etc)
  • 1 Tablespoon oil
  • 1 cup cooked brown rice
  • ½ white onion
  • 1 14-ounce can diced tomatoes
  • 1 14-ounce can black beans or 1 pound cooked ground meat
  • ½ cup tomato sauce
  • 1 4-ounce can jalapenos (optional)
  • 1½ teaspoons taco seasoning
  • ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Directions

  1. Wash hands with warm, soapy water for 20 seconds.
  2. Wash kabocha squash (or other squash) under running water. Use a scrub brush, if possible. Dry off the squash with a paper towel. 
  3. Preheat oven to 350°F.
  4. Cut off the top of the squash and removed the seeds.
  5. Brush oil around the inside. Bake for 20-30 minutes, or until the squash begins to become soft.
  6. In a large bowl, combine rice, onion, tomatoes, beans or meat, tomato sauce, seasoning, and cheese.
  7. Remove the squash from the oven.
  8. Stuff the rice mixture into the squash. Put the lid onto the squash.
  9. Bake for another 30-45 minutes, or until the filling is hot and the soft is completely tender.
  10. Slice into pieces and serve hot.

Makes 6-8 servings

Ham & Black Bean Soup with Peach Salsa

Ingredients

For the soup

  • 2 15-ounce cans black beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 teaspoon canola oil
  • ½ cup onion, chopped
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 1½ cups diced cooked ham
  • 1 10-ounce can tomatoes and green chilies or diced tomatoes, undrained
  • 2 cups low-sodium broth
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • ½ teaspoon chili powder
  • ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper or red chili flakes (optional)
  • Juice of 1 lime (or 2 Tablespoons lime juice or lemon juice)
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Garnishes: low-fat sour cream, low-fat shredded cheese, peach salsa (see next column)

Directions

  1. Wash hands with warm, soapy water for 20 seconds.
  2. Rinse and drain beans.
  3. Place beans in a bowl and partially mash with a potato masher or fork, or pulse in a blender or food processor. Set aside.
  4. Heat oil in a medium-sized pot. Add onion, garlic, and ham and cook until lightly browned, about 5 minutes.
  5. Add beans, tomatoes and green chilies, broth, and spices. Cover and simmer for about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. You may need to add water if soup is too thick.
  6. Stir in lime/lemon juice, salt, and pepper.
  7. Serve warm with garnishes.

Makes 6 1-cup servings

Ingredients

For peach salsa

  • 2 tomatoes, chopped or 1 cup canned
  • ¼ onion, diced
  • 1 cup canned peaches, drained and chopped
  • 1 Tablespoon cilantro, chopped
  • Salt and lemon/lime juice to taste

Directions

  1. Wash hands with warm, soapy water for 20 seconds.
  2. Mix all ingredients in a bowl. Toss well to blend. Chill before serving.
  3. Enjoy with fresh vegetables, whole grain chips, whole wheat crackers or on top of soup.

Makes 2 cups

Chili Bean Dip

Ingredients

  • 1 15-ounce can pinto or black beans
  • 2 Tablespoons chopped onion
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1/2 cup shredded cheese
 

Directions

  1. Wash hands with warm, soapy water for 20 seconds.
  2. Mash beans in a bowl with potato masher or fork. Make smooth or chunky as desired.
  3. Add remaining ingredients. Blend well.
  4. Serve warm or cold with vegetable strips or tortilla chips.

Makes 15 servings

2 Tablespoons is a serving

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