Rainy Day Bean Soup

Total Time: 2 hrs 25 mins Preparation Time: 25 mins Cook Time: 2 hrs

Ingredients

• Servings: 10
• 1 lb assorted dried beans (such as great northern, red beans, black beans, lima beans, etc.)
• 2 tablespoons salt
• 6 cups water (or more)
• 3 hot italian sausages
• 2 smoked ham hocks
• 2 large garlic cloves, minced
• 2 (16 ounce) cans whole canned tomatoes, undrained
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 1 3/4 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme, crumbled
• 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 1/2 teaspoon garam masala
• 1/4 teaspoon allspice
• 1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley
• 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
• 2 tablespoons dry sherry

Recipe

• 1 rinse beans, place in large pot and add salt and enough water to cover beans by 2 to 3 inches; let soak overnight.
• 2 drain beans and return to pot.
• 3 add 6 cups water, sausages, ham hocks and garlic; bring to a boil, skimming surface occasionally.
• 4 reduce heat, cover and simmer 1 1/2 hours, adding more water if necessary to keep the beans covered.
• 5 add tomatoes with liquid,onion,lemon juice, thyme,pepper flakes, garam masala and allspice.
• 6 cover and simmer until beans are tender, stirring occasionally, about 1 hour.
• 7 remove sausages and ham hocks from pot.
• 8 cut sausages into bite-sized pieces and remove meat from ham hocks, cutting into bite-sized pieces;return meat and sausages to pot.
• 9 (can be prepared 2 days ahead. cover and refrigerate. rewarm over medium heat, stirring frequently.).
• 10 stir in parsley,cilantro and sherry.
• 11 adjust seasonings and serve.