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This spicy and hearty Cajun 15 Bean soup is the perfect slow cooker meal to treat your family with.
Cajun 15 Bean Soup
Cajun 15 Bean Soup?
It’s August and I live in Florida which is also known as the most miserable place to live this time of year unless you are an extreme heat lover … and a glutton for severe punishment in way of 99% humidity on top of 91 degree temperatures. Some people enjoy a slow, smoldering, suffocating death heat from sun up to sun down. I, however, am not one of those people and if I could pay someone to bring me my mail so that I wouldn’t have to walk to the end of our driveway and leave the comfort of my A/C, believe me when I say … I would. So why in the world am I making Cajun 15 Bean Soup in the middle of the hottest month of the year???
Because it’s just THAT GOOD!!!
Occasionally, at my J.O.B. we have company potlucks. You know the drill.. everyone bring in something delicious and impressive so that 30 people can continuously graze from the time they punch the clock until it’s time to waddle home. I support this line of thinking wholeheartedly and besides it’s a great way to try some new dishes without making the full on commitment of time and money when there is possibility of major disappointment.
Potlucks are essentially speed dating for foodies.
Now during our last food fest, one of the girls in my office brought in a huge slow cooker of Cajun 15 Bean Soup. Traditionally speaking, I am not a huge ‘bean soup’ fan.. I’m good with chili, I like Pasta e Fagioli but other than that, I will admit that it has never been my first choice. I am more of a cream based soup girl… cheesy, potatoey (not a real word), extra fat and calories. That’s how I roll.
This is also why I am killing myself doing the T25 workouts but that’s a different conversation. #torture
So there I am sitting on the fence of indecision… to try or not to try? So I did… and then I did some more.. and then I emailed for the recipe to which my friend responded that she doesn’t use recipes, just threw in this and that. Well, this response now prompted me to walk down to her cubicle for further explanation/instruction to which she stated the same thing she sent in her email … throw in this and that.
So I took her advice and that is exactly what I did … she had used roasted chicken and the left over ham bone from a spiral ham. I didn’t have a ham bone on hand so I used ham hocks and sausage instead and this soup came out spicy and hearty and AMAZING. The ham hocks and andoullie sausage are a natural pairing with the Cajun seasoning and serve this up on a cold night with some good crusty bread and you have the perfect meal for your family.
Foodie speed dating at it’s finest!
Enjoy!!
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Cajun 15 Bean Soup
Cajun 15 Bean Soup
Cajun 15 Bean Soup
Cajun 15 Bean Soup
Cajun 15 Bean Soup
Ingredients
- Cajun 15 Bean Soup - NO SOAK METHOD
- 1 bag Cajun 15 Bean Soup - dry beans
- 2 tbl olive oil
- 2 tbl butter
- 2 lbs ham hocks or ham bone
- 12 oz andoullie sausage , sliced into medallions (could also use rotisserie chicken)
- 1 medium sweet onion , diced
- 6 cloves garlic , diced
- 8 cups chicken broth
- 10 oz petite diced tomatoes , minus juice
- 1 cup white or brown rice
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
Instructions
- Rinse beans under water and discard any debris
- In a large sauce pan heat olive oil over medium / high heat
- Sear ham hocks for 3-4 minutes each side or until skin is brown
- Remove ham hocks and add butter - saute onion and garlic until fragrant but do not allow to brown
- Add beans, ham hocks, onion, garlic, spices and chicken broth to a slow cooker and cook on High for 5 hours
- After 5 hours, remove the ham hock and discard skin / bones - pick apart meat and add back into slow cooker
- Add in tomatoes, sausage and rice - cook for another 45 minutes
- Serve immediately with good crusty bread
Now I know what makes it “Cajun” …. a little of this and a little of that!!
I suppose it’s really the sausage, garlic, paprika, onions and garlic… pondering …
ps – I’m loving “Potlucks are essentially speed dating for foodies.” I never thought of it that way, but oh boy that’s true and work potlucks are an endless grazing fest!
pps -my grocery store sells a similar mixture of beans … not sure of the brand name, but I use it often for the parrots (they like cooked beans)
I love beans soup, and sausage just makes it better!
But I’ve never seen that bean mix – what beans are in it? Thanks!
Anne… I had to look this one up!! Hahaha… the one I used is found (in my grocery store) in the section that has the different packages of dried beans, the only difference is this comes with it’s own spice. The brand is Hurst and their 15 bean soup mix consists of Northern, Pinto, Large Lima, Blackeye, Garbanzo, Baby Lima, Green Split, Kidney, Cranberry, Small White, Pink, Small Red, Yellow Split, Lentil, Navy, White Kidney, Black Bean. Whew!! It’s also super pretty before it cooks.. lots of great shapes and colors 🙂
Its always hot here in Chennai and can’t think of being without AC round the year. I love beans soup and tjis looks so healthy n delicious!
Priya our A/C broke for A WEEK in July… I have never appreciated a home appliance so much as when we got our new one 🙂 And even after all that, I had to make this soup!! It’s comfort food at it’s best
What a nasty hot weather means, living in Dubai, I truly understand. I loved the Cajun 15 bean soup. It’s a hearty, loaded with flavours, with a punch from the smoked paprika dish which looks and sounds so delicious, that even I would not take the temperature outside into consideration before cooking it. A must try.
Thanks Piyali! My husband thought I was crazy for making it when there is a heat index of 130 outside but I couldn’t wait!! It was worth it.. haha
Okay, you got me! I am pinning this so I can try it one of these days! It sounds wonderful!
Chris.. be careful.. it’s one of those soups you want to go back for a third helping on (*cough *cough.. not that I did that or anything) … as the weather cools down, this is the perfect soup to make with those left over ham bones we all acquire at the holidays