# What shall I add to my bean soup? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 20, 2014, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-shall-i-add-to-my-bean-soup/699016 "2014-09-20T14:48:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![StarvingButStrong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/starvingbutstrong/32/335_2.png) [@StarvingButStrong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StarvingButStrong)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2014, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-shall-i-add-to-my-bean-soup/699016/1 "2014-09-20T14:48:23Z")
Winter is coming 😉 so I’m in the mood for soup. I decided I wanted to try a big pot of bean soup, which I’ve never made before. I googled a recipe for a slow cooker bean soup, but now that I’ve got it started, I’m having second thoughts about it. It just seems like it _cannot_ have enough flavor, based on how much spice vs. volume of soup… What do you think I should add? And should it be now – it’s supposed to cook on low for 8-10 hours and I only started it at 8:30 so there’s plenty of time – or shortly before eating? BTW, I don’t want to add any meat. I know it’s already not vegetarian, but I’m trying to include more ‘meatless’ meals in our diet. Here’s what I have in the crock so far: 1 pound dry beans (I used roughly equal amounts of small white, small red, and pinto) soaked over night. 2 quarts chicken broth 1 large onion, chopped. 4 carrots, chopped 3 stalks celery, chopped 2 cloves garlic, smushed 2 T. tomato paste 2 t. Italian seasoning 1 t. salt 1/2 t. cayenne pepper The recipe calls for adding a 14 oz. can of diced tomatoes shortly before serving. ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2014, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-shall-i-add-to-my-bean-soup/699016/2 "2014-09-20T14:50:14Z")
Yeeeahhhh… have you added the Italian seasoning yet? Cuz if you haven’t, I’d go for a couple teaspoons of chili powder and a teaspoon of cumin, for starters. Chili powder and cumin are my go-to for beans. I use a mix of McCormick’s ancho and chipotle powders. PS: bacon never hurts. ---
**Author:** ![chiroptera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@chiroptera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chiroptera)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2014, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-shall-i-add-to-my-bean-soup/699016/3 "2014-09-20T14:54:05Z")
Sliced sausage. Chopped greens (kale, turnip, chard, etc.) Second the the chili powder, or red chili pepper flakes. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2014, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-shall-i-add-to-my-bean-soup/699016/4 "2014-09-20T14:58:24Z")
**Englishman:** Good lord! What is _this?_ **American waitress:** It’s bean soup, sir. **Englishman:** I don’t care what it’s _been!_ What is it _now?_ ---
**Author:** ![Rex\_Goliath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bcef8e/32.png) [@Rex\_Goliath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rex_Goliath)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2014, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-shall-i-add-to-my-bean-soup/699016/5 "2014-09-20T15:04:34Z")
> [@chiroptera](#): > > Sliced sausage. > Chopped greens (kale, turnip, chard, etc.) > Second the the chili powder, or red chili pepper flakes. Agreed on all counts. Also consider okra and zucchini. ---
**Author:** ![Alice\_The\_Goon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Alice\_The\_Goon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alice_The_Goon)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2014, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-shall-i-add-to-my-bean-soup/699016/6 "2014-09-20T15:05:25Z")
Looks fine to me. Next time, I would sweat (briefly saute) the vegetables before adding- that helps to develop a deeper flavor. I might also add cumin. You’re probably gonna need more salt. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2014, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-shall-i-add-to-my-bean-soup/699016/7 "2014-09-20T15:11:34Z")
I’d use crumbled mild italian sausage (or hot if you prefer). You can pre-cook it and add it to the soup or just toss in small uncooked chunks into the hot pot of soup and simmer soup another 20 minutes or so to cook the sausage through. Definitely needs greens. Kale is an excellent suggestion. What’s missing as well is garlic. Crack some cloves and throw them in early in the process. Else grate a couple of cloves if it’s near the end. Just give it a little of time for the garlic falvour to mellow - you don’t want it too raw. Oh! Bay Leaves. 3. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2014, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-shall-i-add-to-my-bean-soup/699016/8 "2014-09-20T15:23:59Z")
I like spinach in my bean soup. I also add some anchovies, which are not really noticeable, but just create some complexity/depth of flavor. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2014, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-shall-i-add-to-my-bean-soup/699016/9 "2014-09-20T15:32:48Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > What’s missing as well is garlic. Crack some cloves and throw them in early in the process. Else grate a couple of cloves if it’s near the end. Just give it a little of time for the garlic falvour to mellow - you don’t want it too raw. :smack: n/m, It’s in there. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2014, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-shall-i-add-to-my-bean-soup/699016/10 "2014-09-20T16:07:41Z")
Smoked sausage, or a meaty smoked ham hock. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2014, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-shall-i-add-to-my-bean-soup/699016/11 "2014-09-20T17:36:37Z")
Savory ---
**Author:** ![StarvingButStrong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/starvingbutstrong/32/335_2.png) [@StarvingButStrong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StarvingButStrong)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2014, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-shall-i-add-to-my-bean-soup/699016/12 "2014-09-20T19:03:30Z")
Lots of good suggestions, thank you guys! I tasted the broth, then added some cumin and crushed red pepper flakes. It definitely needed more kick. I plan to add some shredded greens, too, but I’m thinking to put that in much closer to serving time. And I think it will need salt, but I’ll adjust that at the last moment. All the meat suggestions sound yummy, but as I said, I was hoping to make this a (solid) meatless meal. (Trying to wean my husband off the ‘every meal must include a hunk of meat’ pattern.) Thanks for the help! ---
**Author:** ![chiroptera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@chiroptera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chiroptera)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2014, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-shall-i-add-to-my-bean-soup/699016/13 "2014-09-20T19:45:17Z")
On the second reading, I saw that you said no meat. Sorry! I add greens about 30 or so minutes before the end. Enough time for them to soften up and absorb flavour without getting too wilted or tough. ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2014, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-shall-i-add-to-my-bean-soup/699016/14 "2014-09-20T19:58:49Z")
> [@Sattua](#): > > Yeeeahhhh… have you added the Italian seasoning yet? It’s good, you basically have pasta e fagioli if you throw some ditalini in there. ---
**Author:** ![Lacunae\_Matata](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@Lacunae\_Matata](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lacunae_Matata)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2014, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-shall-i-add-to-my-bean-soup/699016/15 "2014-09-20T20:05:47Z")
When cooking bean soups, I always add a dollop of prepared mustard. Learned that from an old lady from Texas umpteen years ago. Definitely adds some complexity and brightness to the dish. ---
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2014, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-shall-i-add-to-my-bean-soup/699016/16 "2014-09-20T20:27:39Z")
Chiroptera has half a pound of ground buffalo meat he doesn’t know what to do with. ---
**Author:** ![chiroptera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@chiroptera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chiroptera)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2014, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-shall-i-add-to-my-bean-soup/699016/17 "2014-09-20T20:32:00Z")
> [@E-DUB](#): > > Chiroptera has half a pound of ground buffalo meat he doesn’t know what to do with. She. 🙂 I’d be happy to share. But I am hungry, and SBS doesn’t live close to me. ---
**Author:** ![StarvingButStrong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/starvingbutstrong/32/335_2.png) [@StarvingButStrong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StarvingButStrong)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2014, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-shall-i-add-to-my-bean-soup/699016/18 "2014-09-20T20:40:20Z")
> [@chiroptera](#): > > She. 🙂 > > I’d be happy to share. But I am hungry, and SBS doesn’t live close to me. Too bad, I’ve got a LOT of soup! Maybe enough for everyone in the thread. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Amberlei](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e56c9b/32.png) [@Amberlei](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amberlei)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2014, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-shall-i-add-to-my-bean-soup/699016/19 "2014-09-20T21:09:16Z")
I’ve never tried mustard in bean soup, but I’m going to give it a try next time I make some. I usually put a dash of worcestershire sauce in mine and sometimes soy sauce in place of salt. ---
**Author:** ![dinahmoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8797f3/32.png) [@dinahmoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dinahmoe)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2014, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-shall-i-add-to-my-bean-soup/699016/20 "2014-09-21T00:37:00Z")
If you can find it, a spoonful of Marmite adds a lot of flavor. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-shall-i-add-to-my-bean-soup/699016.md?page=2)