Bacon White Bean Soup With Dumplings

Ingredients

• 1 cup dried white beans or peas
• 1 small piece bacon or salt pork
• Water for soaking and boiling
• 1 tbsp thickening (flour or cornstarch)
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
• 1/2 tsp fresh thyme
• Dumpling ingredients (flour, liquid, salt)

Method

1. 1 Soak dried beans or peas overnight. Place them in a pot with plenty of water and a small piece of bacon or salt pork. Bring to a boil and cook for one hour.
2. 2 Drain the cooking water. Return the beans and meat to the pot, add fresh cold water, and boil for another hour until beans are tender.
3. 3 Stir in a thickening agent (such as flour mixed with water), salt, pepper, parsley, and thyme. Simmer briefly to cook the thickener.
4. 4 Prepare simple dumpling dough. Drop spoonfuls of dough into the soup and simmer for 30 minutes until dumplings are cooked through.