15 Bean Soup: Ultimate Hearty Recipe with Smoked Ham Hocks

Ingredients

• 1 package (1 lb / 454 g) Dried 15 Bean Soup Mix
• 1 large (approx. 1 lb / 450–500 g) Smoked Ham Hock or 2 small hocks
• 8 cups (1.9 L) Low-sodium Chicken or Vegetable Stock
• 4 cups (950 ml) Water (plus more as needed during simmering)
• 2 Tbsp (30 ml) Extra Virgin Olive Oil or Rendered Bacon Fat
• 1 large Yellow Onion, finely diced
• 2 medium Carrots, peeled and finely diced
• 2 stalks Celery, finely diced
• 4 cloves Garlic, minced
• 2 whole Bay Leaves
• 1 tsp Dried Thyme
• ½ tsp Black Pepper, freshly ground
• 1 Tbsp Apple Cider Vinegar or Lemon Juice
• Kosher Salt, to taste (Added only at the very end)
• ¼ cup Fresh Flat-leaf Parsley, chopped (for garnish)