Name: Bean soup with bacon
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 1 onion, chopped; 100g smoked bacon (bacon); 1 Tbsp vegetable oil; 1 clove garlic, minced; 1 Tbsp cornflour/starch (or flour); 1 tsp paprika powder; 2 x 400 ml canned beans, drained and rinsed; 1 carrot; 1 small celeriac; 1 small parsnip (or turnip); 1 bay leaf; 1 tsp whole pepper; To serve: sour cream or natural yogurt, vinegar

Bean soup with bacon

3 Nov 2015

by Emese

Prep Time

5 minutes

Cook Time

25 minutes

Total Time

30 minutes

Background

Bean soup is a very popular dish in Hungary, made with smoked pork shank and dry beans. It's not very easy to buy smoked shank in England so I usually make it with bacon.
This version is much quicker and easier than the traditional Hungarian method - I also use canned beans instead of of pre-soaked beans. My version of bean soup with bacon is now a family favorite, so I make it regularly. It's a wonderful winter warmer for cold dark evenings!

Ingredients

1 onion, chopped
100g smoked bacon (bacon)
1 Tbsp vegetable oil
1 clove garlic, minced
1 Tbsp cornflour/starch (or flour)
1 tsp paprika powder
2 x 400 ml canned beans, drained and rinsed
1 carrot
1 small celeriac
1 small parsnip (or turnip)
1 bay leaf
1 tsp whole pepper
To serve: sour cream or natural yogurt, vinegar

Instructions

Cut the bacon into chunks.
Heat the oil, then add the bacon, onion and garlic. Cook for a few minutes on a medium heat until the onion softened.
Add the paprika and the cornflour/starch, stir for another minute, then add the beans, pepper and bay leaf. Pour enough water over it to cover - about 1½ L. Bring to the boil.
Meanwhile peel the vegetables and cut them into bite-sized pieces. Add these to the broth, bring to the boil again, then simmer over low heat under cover.
Cook for about 10-15 minutes until the vegetables are tender.
Add a spoonful of vinegar if you like an extra edge to the flavour.
Serve it with fresh, crusty bread and top it with a dollop of sour cream or Greek yoghurt.