Omnica Wahanpi (Bean Soup)

Check back to this blog for seasonal recipes. This is my waniyetu (winter) recipe — enjoy!

Ingredients:

Bumble Bee Beans

1 ½-2 cups beans
1-2 Tbs oil
2-3 stalks celery, chopped
1 onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, chopped
¾ cup carrots, finely chopped
Chicken broth or water
Ham bone or 1 ½ cups of chopped ham
2 slices bacon, cooked and chopped (optional)
1-2 bay leaves
Salt/pepper

Directions:

Soak beans overnight. (Options: Hidatsa White Shield, Bumble Bee, Carolina Contender, Arikara Yellow, Lino Sisco’s Bird Egg, or similar.)
In soup pot, add oil and heat on medium heat. Add celery and onion, cook about five minutes until tender. Add garlic, stir and cook for one more minute. Add remaining ingredients. Cover pot and bring to a boil. Then turn heat down to a simmer and cook for 2-3 hours until beans are soft. Eat no more than 5 bowls.