How to Make Hearty Bean and Barley Soup in a Slow Cooker

Navy beans are nutritionally dense.

Navy beans might be economical and nutritious, but after years of eating traditional Navy Bean Soup, you might welcome a new way to fix them. If you're looking for a slightly different take on an old favorite, team Navy beans with fiber- and nutrient-dense barley and selected other ingredients to create a richly textured, full-bodied soup.

Things You'll Need

• Slow cooker
• 1 pound dry navy beans
• 1 quart water
• 1/2 cup pearled barley
• 1 small ham bone or 1/2 cup ham cut in 1/2-inch chunks
• 1/2- pound bulk Italian sausage
• 1 small onion
• 2 cloves garlic
• 2 cans beef consomme or bouillon
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 2 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
• 1 fresh Jalapeno pepper

Instructions

1. Sort 1 pound of navy beans, discarding any discolored or broken beans. Rinse well in warm water. Drain. Pour the beans into your slow cooker.

2. Add 1/2 cup pearled barley, 1 quart water, and 1 small ham bone or 1/2 cup ham cut into 1/2-inch chunks. Stir these ingredients into the beans in the slow cooker.

3. Brown 1/2 pound of bulk Italian sausage until it is no longer pink. Drain it to remove any fat. Add to the bean and barley mixture in the slow cooker and stir in.

4. Peel and mince 2 cloves of garlic and chop 1 small onion. Add these ingredients to the contents of the slow cooker.

5. Stir 2 cans beef consomme or bouillon into the mixture in the slow cooker. Add 1/2 tsp. salt, 2 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce, and 1 fresh Jalapeno pepper. Give the contents a final stir, and set cooking control on high

6. Cook 6 to 8 hours on high, or until the beans are cooked through and tender. Stir occasionally, adding water if needed to maintain a medium-thick broth. Add your preferred seasonings and serve.

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Tips & Warnings

• Remove the jalapeno pepper after 1 or 2 hours to reduce the "hotness" factor.

• Soak the navy beans for 4 hours prior to cooking. Drain this water off and proceed as per the recipe. Soaking will reduce the cooking time somewhat and help reduce the gas producing aspects of beans as well.

• Stir your soup occasionally to prevent the contents from settling on the bottom of the slow cooker and scorching.

References

• Taste of Home Recipes: White Bean 'n' Barley Soup
• Organic Facts: Nutritional Value of Navy Beans and Lima Beans
• BarleyFoods : Health & Nutrition

Resources

• Crockpot Tips & Hints
• The Cooking Inn : Crock Pot Cooking