Eat the hearty, historic dish senators have enjoyed for over a century—Senate Bean Soup!
Recipes come and go, evolving over the years. Restaurants change their menus and adjust their ingredients based on what is available and what people like. One thing that has stayed virtually the same for the past 110 years is Senate bean soup.
One version of the story attributes this bean soup’s daily appearance on the menu at the Senate cafeteria to Knute Nelson, a Minnesota senator who supposedly first requested it in 1903. Another version claims the Idaho senator, Fred Dubois, was responsible, insisting that a bean soup should be on the restaurant’s menu every single day. Either way, some versions of Senate bean soup have been served daily in the Senate Restaurant for over 110 years—except for one day in 1943 when rationing during World War II made the ingredients unavailable.
Senate bean soup is a hearty, warming bowl of comfort. You can tweak the recipe to your preference. For example, I like to add chopped carrots to it for a touch of sweetness and extra color. It’s a great soup to make ahead, too. When I don’t feel like cooking, I’ll pull out a container from the freezer and pop it in the microwave or heat it in a small pot on the stove.
Is Senate Bean Soup Healthy?
This soup is a wholesome choice. Navy beans are rich in fiber and serve as an excellent source of plant-based protein, vitamins, and minerals. While ham hock contributes protein and enhances the dish’s flavor, it also contains a notable amount of saturated fat. For a leaner alternative that still provides robust flavor, consider substituting the ham hock with a smoked turkey leg.
Should You Soak the Navy Beans Overnight?
You will likely find some versions of this recipe that omit soaking the beans overnight. They may suggest adding baking soda to the water to help soften the beans. While softening the beans is a benefit of overnight soaking, it is far from the only reason. Soaking your beans may help break down sugars in them so they are easier to digest. It may reduce the gas you might get from consuming beans, too.
As I researched this question, I came across a website that tested soaking beans in several different ways or not soaking at all. They also tried other methods like using baking soda and salt. While they found no significant difference, (except in cooking time), the baking soda results were not the best. The beans cooked with baking soda became powdery, changed color, and tasted bad.
How to Make Ahead and Store
You can make the soup ahead of time, as it will stay fresh in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months. I like to store soups in individual containers so that anytime anyone wants some, I don’t have to worry about having too much left over.
Serving Suggestions
There’s not much you need to do when enjoying a delicious bowl of Senate bean soup, but having a crusty roll or slice of bread is always nice. Since the soup is savory, I often like to pair a slightly sweet bread. This Gluten-Free Paleo Pumpkin Bread is packed with nutrients yet low in added sugar—only one-third cup of maple syrup (or honey). It goes so well with the soup.
Salad is a dish that naturally goes together with soup, and two that I recommend are Keto Broccoli Salad and Broccoli Apple Salad. They bring the crunch missing in soup for a well-rounded meal.
Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 pound dried navy beans
- 1 large smoked ham hock
- 8 cups water
- 1 medium onion diced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- Salt to taste
- Black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Rinse and soak the navy beans overnight in cold water to soften.
- Drain and place the beans in a large pot with the ham hock and water. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for about 3 hours, or until beans are tender.
- In a skillet, melt butter over medium heat and sauté onion and garlic until translucent. Add to the soup pot. Remove the ham hock, shred the meat, and return the meat to the pot. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Nutrition Info:
Recipes written and produced on Food Faith Fitness are for informational purposes only.
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