Great northern beans with smoked turkey

🍲 Great Northern Beans with Smoked Turkey

Ingredients

• 1 lb dried Great Northern beans (or 4 cups canned, drained and rinsed)

• 1 smoked turkey leg or smoked turkey wings (about 1–2 lbs)

• 1 medium onion, diced

• 2–3 cloves garlic, minced

• 2 carrots, diced

• 2 celery stalks, diced

• 6 cups water or low-sodium chicken broth

• 1–2 tsp salt (adjust later)

• ½ tsp black pepper

• 1 tsp dried thyme

• 1 bay leaf

Optional: 1–2 tsp apple cider vinegar at the end for a bright finish

Instructions

If using dried beans:

1. Soak beans overnight in water, or use quick-soak (boil 5 min, then let sit 1 hr).

2. Drain soaked beans before cooking.

Cook the beans and turkey:

1. In a large pot, sauté onion, garlic, carrots, and celery until softened (~5 minutes).

2. Add soaked beans, smoked turkey, water/broth, thyme, bay leaf, salt, and pepper.

3. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer 1.5–2 hours, until beans are tender and flavors meld.

4. Remove smoked turkey, shred meat off the bone, and return meat to the pot. Discard bones and skin.

5. Taste and adjust seasoning. Optional: add 1–2 tsp apple cider vinegar for a little tang.

Tips & Variations

• Quick version: Use canned beans (skip soaking; simmer 30–40 minutes to meld flavors).

• Extra smoky: Add a few dashes of liquid smoke if you don’t have a smoked turkey.

• Creamier beans: Mash a few beans against the side of the pot to thicken broth naturally.

• Serve with cornbread, rice, or collard greens for a full Southern-style meal.

This dish gets better the next day, so it’s perfect for leftovers! 😋