Hearty Beans and Smoked Turkey Soup

canned beans

🥗Healthier: dried beans

💰Cheaper: canned lentils

Dried beans are more nutritious, while canned lentils are often less expensive.

smoked turkey

🥗Healthier: grilled chicken

💰Cheaper: rotisserie chicken

Grilled chicken is leaner, while rotisserie chicken is convenient and economical.

Wash and dice celery, carrots, and onion; use a food processor for the onion if desired.

Boil the smoked turkey leg in a large pot with enough water to cover it; cook for about 1.5 hours until tender.

Soak the northern beans in water for about 1.5 hours while the turkey cooks.

Drain the soaked beans and add them to the pot with the turkey broth.

Add diced onions, celery, and thyme to the pot; stir to combine.

Cook the beans for about 1.5 to 3 hours depending on whether they were soaked, adding water as needed.

Add diced carrots about 30 minutes before the beans are finished cooking.

Remove the turkey leg from the pot, separate the meat from the bones and skin, and add the meat back into the soup.

Stir in the tomato paste and bay leaf, and continue to simmer until everything is tender.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Allergens