How to Make the Bob Evans Bean Soup Recipe at Home
If you live on the Atlantic Coast or Midwest Bob Evans is an iconic restaurant chain. Often a stop during a family road trip. This beloved family style restaurant was started in 1948, by no other than Bob Evans, who at the time owned a small diner in Ohio. Bob would make his own pork sausages for the diner.
People loved them so much, they wanted to take them home. Demand grew and soon Bob had to open a store just for the sausage. Long story short, from that pork store the first Bob Evans restaurant was born.
Today, there are over 442 locations, featuring a country home theme. There are snacks, baked goods, and even gifts that can be purchased in addition to the comfort food loaded menu. Items like hotcakes, country fried steak, and fried chicken with mashed potatoes.
Your hunger is sure to be satisfied when you leave a Bob Evans restaurant. If you can’t get to one of these fun spots though, and still want to sample some of its hearty goodness, why not try the Bob Evans bean soup recipe? It’s a classic and is so filling and tasty, you’ll feel you’re right in the restaurant. Even better, it’s basically a dump recipe, so super easy.
How To Make The Bob Evans Bean Soup Recipe At Home
Ingredients
- 1 pound of dried navy beans
- 1 pound of chopped smoked ham (feel free to add a ham bone if you have one)
- 4 medium carrots, chopped
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced
- 8 cups of water
- 2 chicken stock cubes
- salt and pepper
- 4 tablespoons of butter
- 1 tablespoon of dried parsley
- 3 celery stalks, diced
- 7 baby carrots, finely chopped
Directions
- Rinse the navy beans well. Let them soak for about an hour before starting the soup.
- Place everything into a large pot. Bring to a boil, then simmer for at least 2 hours or until everything is tender.
- Ladle into bowls, salt and pepper to taste, and enjoy.
Nutritional Information
- calories: 220
- fat: 3.7 grams
- cholesterol: 19 milligrams
- sodium: 602 milligrams
- carbohydrates: 37 grams
- protein: 19 grams
What Can I Serve With The Bob Evans Bean Soup Recipe
There are endless possibilities for what can be served with the Bob Evans bean soup recipe. From snacks to full-course meals, this soup can be the star of any show. Here are just a few suggestions about what to serve with this fan favorite.
1. Crispy Onion Rings
The sweet taste and crunchy texture on the rings goes great with the earthy, smooth flavors of the soup.
2. Coleslaw
Coleslaw goes well with just about soup, but with bean soup, the cabbage gives a bit of tang to the smooth bean mixture.
3. Mashed Potatoes
Why not pair two delicious comfort foods together. Winter is coming, treat yourself.
4. Grilled Cheese
Soup and grilled cheese. You’ll never go wrong with this classic combo.
5. Biscuits
Bisquits are always great. Especially when you have soup to dip it in.
6. Sautéed Spinach
A deliciously healthy way to spice up your bean soup.
7. Orzo with Parmesan
Balance out the high protein with some cheesy carbs.
8. Garlic Bread
Try some crispy earthy flavored bread for an earthy flavored soup.
9. Coconut Rice
It makes for a lovely multi-flavored layered meal.
10. Potato Chips
If you want no fuss or muss, just crack open a bag of chips.
This small, oval, white,bean gets its name from being a staple food on U.S. Naval ships in the 1900’s. The navy loved these beans because, obviously, being dried, they kept well for long voyages at sea.
But the bean was also beloved for its protein and fiber content. Most importantly, when cooked, the navy bean becomes creamy and rich. So it’s a great ingredient for stews, soups, and ragout. It can easily be made in bulk, for large groups (like the navy).
What Wine Is Best With Bean Soup?
If you would like a little vino with your bean soup, here’s a few suggestions:
- Pinot noir
- chardonnay
- Zinfandel
- riesling
These wines will compliment the salty sweetness of the ham.
Navy beans are great for your body and mind. Sometimes called the haricot bean or the Boston Bean, they have many nutrients including:
- fiber: 19 grams (the most of any bean)
- protein: 14 grams
- 4 milligrams of iron
- a multitude of B vitamins
- potassium: 354 milligrams
In a study of 38 children who increased their navy bean consumption, it was found that the cholesterol levels in all of them improved.
The high fiber content helps with weight loss, blood pressure, and digestion. The B vitamins can help improve memory. The iron helps the blood to circulate. All that protein helps build and repair muscles. Sounds like a pretty good bean. Other beans that are especially great and actually considered superfoods are:
- garbanzo beans
- lentils
- kidney beans
- soybeans
- black beans
- pinto beans
Here are some Cool Bean Facts
- National Bean Day is January 6th of each year.
- Bean soup is on the menu of the U.S. senate restaurant every day.
- North Dakota produces most of the beans in the United States at 32%. Michigan is in second place at 17% and Nebraska produces 11%.
- Humans have been growing beans for over 6,000 years.
- In Nicaragua, newly married couples get a bowl of beans for good luck.
- Beans can be made into cakes, drinks, burgers, pies, fudges, muffins, spreads, dips, jewelry, furniture, and musical instruments.
- The Native Americans taught the colonists how to grow beans with corn so that the beanstalks would climb the stalks.
- The record for the largest pot of baked beans is 1,010 gallons.
- Every hour, 38.5 tons of baked beans are eaten in Britain.
- The Ancient Egyptians made cosmetics from beans.
- Black beans are the most canned beans purchased in the United States. Chick peas took second place.
- Most beans grow in pods that will develop into flowers.
- There are over 40,000 varieties of beans.
- The USDA says adults should eat 3 cups of beans a week.
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