15-Bean Soup

15-Bean Soup is a hearty, rustic American soup made from a dried bean blend that typically includes varieties like navy, kidney, pinto, black, and lima beans, often seasoned with smoked meats like ham hocks. It's a classic comfort food, especially popular in the Southern United States, where it's valued for being economical, filling, and perfect for feeding a crowd.

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🍽️ Nutrition at a glance

This soup is a nutritional powerhouse, being high in plant-based protein and complex carbohydrates while being very low in fat (unless made with fatty meats). It provides an excellent source of dietary fiber, iron, folate, and other essential minerals, with a typical serving (about 1.5 cups) containing roughly 250-350 calories.

Nutrition breakdown

Calories	220 kcal
Protein	13 g
Carbs	38 g
Fat	1 g
Fiber	15 g
Sugar	4 g
Sodium	480 mg
Iron	4 mg
Potassium	600 mg
Magnesium	80 mg
Folate	180 mcg
Thiamin (B1)	0.3 mg
Phosphorus	200 mg
Zinc	2 mg
Manganese	1.2 mg

Per 1 cup (240 g) · estimated, varies by recipe

💡 What's interesting

What's unique is the blend itself; the '15-bean' mix is a commercial product that creates a complex texture and a deep, earthy flavor profile from the variety of legumes. Culturally, it embodies the 'waste-not, want-not' ethos of traditional cooking, transforming humble, inexpensive dried ingredients into a deeply nourishing and satisfying meal.