Hearty Navy Bean Soup

[nverland]

Hearty Navy Bean Soup
Total Time Prep: 30 min. + soaking Cook: 1-3/4 hours Makes 10 servings (2-1/2 quarts)

Ingredients

3 cups (1-1/2 pounds) dried navy beans
1 can (14-1/2 ounces) diced tomatoes, undrained
1 large onion, chopped
1 meaty ham hock or 1 cup diced cooked ham
2 cups chicken broth
2-1/2 cups water
Salt and pepper to taste
Minced fresh parsley

Directions

Rinse and sort beans; soak according to package directions.
Drain and rinse beans, discarding liquid. Place in a Dutch oven. Add the tomatoes with juice, onion, ham hock, broth, water, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer until beans are tender, about 1-1/2 hours.
Add more water if necessary. Remove ham hock and let stand until cool enough to handle. Remove meat from bone; discard bone. Cut meat into bite-size pieces; set aside. (For a thicker soup, cool slightly, then puree beans in a food processor or blender and return to pan.) Return ham to soup and heat through. Garnish with parsley.

If Cooking for Two: Freeze serving-size portions to enjoy later.

Nutrition Facts
1 cup: 245 calories, 2g fat (0 saturated fat), 8mg cholesterol, 352mg sodium, 42g carbohydrate (5g sugars, 16g fiber), 18g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 3 starch, 2 lean meat.