32 Bean and 8 Vegetable Soup

This is another item to buy in bulk for emergency prepping. Since I only cook for two, I usually store my soup mix in pint Bell canning jars with a small oxygenator in each jar for long term storage. That way I can pull out only the amount I need without exposing the rest of my stores to degrading oxygen. This soup mix also stores well in pails, but I divide mine into smaller mylar bags holding 3-4 cups (each with a dessicant pack at the bottom of the bag and an oxygenator on top) and then pack these bags into the large food grade pails. That way, again, I can take out only the bags I would use within a month, and reseal the pail.

I also put this mix in a pretty bag with ribbons when I give someone a loaf of my homemade sourcream rye bread. I can get a nice basket easily for 50 cents to a dollar at the thrift store, line it with a nice kitchen towel from TJ Maxx, and put in this mix and the fresh bread. A ribbon finishes the basket. Makes a nice welcome to the neighborhood for new people moving into the area, a new mom, or a single person.

Another nice gift is to get one of the mini slow cookers (like Tru brand or Crock pot) and put in small bags of several of the NorthBay soup mixes, and a pot holder. College students especially like this gift idea, as the soup can be cooking while they study, and makes a great reward for studying long hours.

(Posted on 5/16/13)

Thanks for the tip on using a splash of vinegar in the soup! With all the flavored vinegars available today, you can alter the flavor of the soup by which vinegar you choose. You can also try a little lemon juice and white pepper, or red or white wine according to what meat you add to the mix.

(Posted on 5/16/13)

Tried this tonight, wanted to keep it vegetarian but didn't have any veggie broth so went with half chicken broth half water. Added 1 bay leaf, some cumin, cayenne pepper sauce, chilli powder, fresh ground pepper and a splash of apple cider vinegar (thanks to another reviewer!) After simmering for three hours I added a can of petite diced tomatoes with the juice & served. Will make this bean soup again & again!!!!!

(Posted on 4/5/13)

I made this bean soup for the first time and used chicken stock and leftover turkey. It was delicious, filling and gone too fast! I plan on making more this weekend as I could eat this every day and probably will. A tip: My mom always finished off her homemade soups with a splash of vinegar, usually apple cider or red wine. It does not make it taste like vinegar but it kicks up the flavor very nicely.

(Posted on 3/1/13)

The mix arrived yesterday, knowing I needed a big batch of something in the house to warm up when the "hungries" hit, I threw the mix and some stuff I had left from other cooking projects and an intended recipe I hadn't gotten to yet in a pot and simmered and simmered and .....

After mixing up the mix to redistribute the seasonings I added the following to a large stock pot:

2 cups of mix
Nearly 16 cups of water
Smoked ham hocks
2 Bay Leaves
Some copped up celery ends with leaves
A cube of mushroom soup stock
A cube of onion soup stock

Let the above simmer about 4 hours, pulled some Sweet Italian Sausage from the freezer (about 1/2 pound, maybe a bit more), started browning on low to cook out as much grease as I could and got them a dark crispy brown, cooled and sliced into the pot. Removed the hocks, cooled, salvaged any meat. Chopped up the hock meat and put it back into the soup.

Continued to simmer until the picky eaters started coming home saying something smelled good and asking what's for dinner (about 5-6 hours total simmer time). The positive reviews and raves started the minute they tasted it. This is one mix that I made a permanent home for in the pantry.

(Posted on 3/1/13)

I make this bean and veggie soup for me and my husband aduring the winter months. I use 1 cup mix and after the beans begin to tender, I add diced tomatoes with green chilies. So good and makes enough for us to have at least twice.

(Posted on 1/9/13)

This is the best bean soup, ever!

(Posted on 10/26/12)

WOW!!!! I have been a picky eater and Bean Lover for years. Thought I had tasted good beans, as I have been buying a "13 Bean mix" from an "Organic", Whole Food Store for years, adding my own ingredients to try to make them tastier. But "WOW" - tasting this soup was like tasting fresh green beans after having only eating canned beans, or tasting sweet corn on the cob after only having canned. I am NOT kidding. I made two pots. One to which I added liquid smoke, a couple of slices of lean, center cut, lower salt bacon, 1 lb. of fresh garden tomatoes, a little shot of liquid smoke, 1 tbsp. chili powder, 2 tsp. cumin, a little olive oil, 1 tsp. meyer lemon juice, and a little salt. In the second pot, I put the mix and water, at the end putting in a smidge of salt and 1 tbsp. oil, to see which I would like better, and assuming the one with more ingredients would taste better. I was not disappointed in either. I tasted the first one mentioned first, and it KNOCKED MY SOCKS OFF! It made me believe I had NEVER tasted FRESH beans before!! OMG!! It tasted like LIQUID SILK! SO smooth, so fresh, so creamy, and so complex. I thought, surely, it was not only the freshness of the beans and barley, but all the fresh ingredients I had added, so I went on to try the second, plain batch, to which I had only added water, and again, at the end a SMIDGE of salt and ONE TABLESPOON of olive oil for the whole batch. GOOD HEAVENS! I do not lie when I say, such depth and layers of flavors I have never tasted, and I mean it when I say it was the BEST meal I have EVER had in my Life! This is UNREAL food! SO fresh, so full of depth, so silky and smooth I am at a loss to find the words to describe the experience, except to say that I have NEVER had a more satisfying, enjoyable food experience in my LIFE, and I am NO Spring Chicken, and quite discerning when it comes to not only the nutritional content, but the taste and quality of the food that I purchase.

KUDOS North Bay Trading - and THANK YOU - rarely, in fact, NEVER has such a tasty meal left me totally confident and comforted that within its Joy laid a foundation of solid nutritional support!

Thank You!

Susan from Illinois :0)

(Posted on 9/30/12)

I love this soup mix! I put it in the crock pot with a couple ham hocks and in a few hours we have great bean soup.

(Posted on 8/30/12)

OMG I have commented before but I have made a new discovery,I just added some balsamic vinegar to this bean soup and it's out of this world!...Try it tangy lovers!

(Posted on 3/6/12)

i made 32 bean soup for soup of the day in my restaurant we sold 5 gl for lunch. just outstanding product. several guests ask me for your site on the internet

(Posted on 1/24/12)

We couldn't believe the flavor of this soup, outstanding. No "bean" after effects, either.

(Posted on 1/20/12)

I add minced garlic, salt & pepper and it is delicious.

(Posted on 1/18/12)

This soup has become a stable of our diet. We make it with 3 cups soup, 1 cup rice (to thicken), carrots, celery, onions, tomatoes, red wine vinegar, and 1 tbsp salt. Serve with pepper. Delicious, nutritious, and our grocery bill has never been lower! Great for dipping fresh-baked bread.

(Posted on 1/15/12)

This is my favorite soup. I start out with sauteed onion and garlic (and if I have any) fresh celery. Since I make small batches I use 1/2 cup soup mix and 1 qt. vegetable broth, add either dried tomatoes or canned fire roasted tomatoes and dried spinach. I usually throw in some extra dried vegetables. Any vegetable you want to add is great. It's delicious soup.

(Posted on 1/7/12)

I made chili with ground turkey, a can of diced tomatoes,chili seasoning, diced onion and the beans. The following day the mixture made great tacos.

(Posted on 12/16/11)

This bean soup is one of the best I've ever eaten. It is delicious vegetarian or we cook with a ham hock or left over bacon and ham flavoring. It is one of our favorite foods to eat. It is easy and quick to prepare. Love this product.

(Posted on 11/8/11)

This is a great bean soup starter or great vegetable soup all by itself. This is a big winter staple for Alaska living for my family. We love to use moose and wild mushrooms or salmon with chives from the garden. There are so many variations you can do, so just add a few things and let your taste buds do the rest.

(Posted on 9/13/11)

I received the 32 bean and vegetable soup mix today and made it for dinner. I added small pieces of apple sausage, celery, and onion along with fresh garlic, Italian stewed tomatoes and some Italian seasoning. I couldn't believe how good it was! Excellent flavor and I love the mix of beans. The carrots looked and tasted like freshly cut instead of being part of the mix. I can't wait to try other products.

(Posted on 5/13/11)

Loved the big variety beans in this bean soup! So yummy with dried tomatoes, green chilies, onions and a ham bone! We couldn't stop eating it!

(Posted on 4/27/11)

I picked up a pound of the 32 bean mix at the Healthy Living Market in Burlington, Vermont, and since I had a snow (ice?) day today, I made a big old cauldron of amazing ham and 32 bean soup to warm us up!

In my large Dutch oven with some olive oil, I sauteed some diced/sliced veggies--2 medium onions, 3 large stalks celery, 2 large carrots, a few hot peppers, two or three cloves of garlic, and about 8-10 mushrooms. Then I added the bean soup mix in its soaking liquid (to cover) and added two tablespoons of vegetable soup base (Better Than Bouillon). I also added a teaspoon of dried oregano, 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme, 1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary, and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper. I brought this to the boil for five minutes, and turned it to simmer for two hours. I ended up adding two more cans of vegetable broth to the mix, as it thickened during cooking. Then I added a can of fire-roasted diced tomatoes, a tablespoon of Worcestershire sauce, and about a pound of diced ham, then finished simmering the soup for almost another hour. It came out thick and rich and so flavorful! Love this soup!

(Posted on 2/28/11)

Great soup base and I add whatever veggies I have in our house. I sometimes use low sodium vegetable broth instead of 1/2 the water. Our 2 1/2 year old granddaughter loves this soup and it is so healthy for all of us.

(Posted on 1/23/11)

Gave some of this bean soup to a vegetarian friend for Christmas, she added veggie broth, onions celery and garlic and cant stop eating it! In her words it is 'yummalicious!' To my soup I simply cooked with water and added ham, it was delicious! The different taste and texture of each bean is in every bite! We are reordering, in bulk this time!

(Posted on 1/6/11)

The individual flavors of each type of bean really stood out. We added ham, salt & pepper, and some mushrooms to this mix and it was superb! Highly recommend adding more water towards the end if you like your soup a little bit thinner. Such a great soup for cold winter days. Try it out!

(Posted on 11/27/10)

This is, by far, my favorite soup to make (and eat!) year round. I make it with vegetable broth and I always make a batch big enough for a few days ... it also gets more delicious each day. Everyone I've served it to had enjoyed it, too. I order the 5lb bag and share as well.

(Posted on 11/18/10)

Soup from scratch is a mainstay meal at our house. There is no reason to eat soup from a can when it is so easy to make. Prior to trying this bean mix, we hadn't had much success with bean based soup. Thankfully our search for a bean soup is over. Like everyone else says, this is delicious! You can make it as is, or add in other veggies spices as you like. If you are on the fence about purchasing this, buy it because you won't be disappointed!!!

(Posted on 10/1/10)

While I have created my fair share of bean and legume soup recipes, I've never encountered such a delightful blend of ingredients that make up this "32-Bean and 8-Vegetable Soup". Not only is it hearty and filling, but the protein/fiber ratio makes it even acceptable for those folks who prefer a lower carb count meal. I used some "Air-Dried Tomato Flakes", instead of canned tomatoes, for a dash of color and flair. The end result was a bountiful, beautiful pot of "Stoup" thicker than a soup but not quite a stew! Next time I'm ordering the 5 lb bag of this "32-Bean Soup" treasure!

(Posted on 7/17/10)

I have made this soup several times and have turned my family and friends on to it. They love it! I also have experimented with it in different ways. I've used chicken or beef broths, added a ham bone, chicken, fresh vegetables and spices. I love my soup spicy so I cook it with jalapenos and add cayenne pepper too. I make a lot, then freeze it in baggies and take one out whenever I want a quick, hearty, healthy meal - which is often. And it tastes just as good as the day I made it! I know this soup is so nutritious and I feel really good when I eat it. I will keep coming back for more!

(Posted on 4/1/10)

I'm a great cook and make my own soups all year. This soup mix is better than I can make! I follow the directions on the package. Sometimes I use chicken or beef broth as a base but it's great any way you make it. Sure beats trying to add all the ingredients individually. It's very economical as I only use a small amount to make a good pot of soup for the two of us.

(Posted on 3/11/10)

This bean soup is really good, and really REALLY good with a pork shank added...I now take a soup packet to dinner party hosts instead of the customary wine. A big hit! Leanna.

(Posted on 2/23/10)

We made a super hearty vegan soup with this as the base. Added pureed tomatoes/basil, lots of italian spices, some chili powder blend for heat, a splash of red wine vinegar to add some interesting undertones of flavor, homemade vegan Italian sausage and some kale. Very delicious!

(Posted on 2/20/10)

There is nothing better than this 32 Bean soup. We've ordered this twice and our children can't get enough. I added a ham bone and it was delicious. Its a hearty soup that sticks to your ribs.

(Posted on 2/18/10)

Who knew there were 32 kinds of beans?! Well, this company sure knows, and the bean soup they sell is simply delicious. Healthy, not too much salt (always a problem with prepared soups), and I like to add ham or chicken to compliment the veggies. This is a GREAT company, I've been ordering their Canadian wild rice for years, it's simply the best. Nancy.

(Posted on 2/16/10)

My kids love this bean soup because not only do the beans taste much better than many dried beans, they are all different sizes and shapes, and are fun to eat. May sound funny, but this soup is very beautiful. I often add some extra fresh veggies and it's the perfect winter meal.

(Posted on 2/3/10)

I made this bean and vegetable soup for the first time at a dinner party for eight, and it proved a big hit, a great start to the meal (maybe even the best part of the meal). I prepared it just the way it specified, maybe even cooked it down a bit too much, but it was so tasty.

(Posted on 2/2/10)

This bean soup mix is truly the best soup ever. It allows me to be creative with water, all the broths, beef cubes, pork cubes, or meatless. I can make it southwesters flavor or stew flavored. It's wonderful and it's quick and easy! Great product. I purchase from Whole Foods in Albuquerque, NM.

(Posted on 12/25/09)

I have ordered this twice and the soups are better than I can cook f"from scratch". Cheaper, too, than trying to add all the ingredients yourself. Add a soup bone or some meat cubes. GREAT!

(Posted on 12/16/09)

Many people are coming back for more. We are on our second order at the UU Fellowship of Door County. The money raised will buy an Automatic External Defibrilator (AED) and to train people to use it.

(Posted on 10/25/09)

When in Pensacola, FL., I purchased this bean and vegetable soup mix at Ever'man's. It is the most delicious and unforgettable soup I've ever had. It is not at my local Kroger store so glad to order more here.

(Posted on 9/25/09)