Classic Senate Bean Soup

Ingredients

- 6 servings +

• 1 lb dried navy beans, rinsed, picked through, and soaked
• 1 ½ lbs smoked ham hocks, 1 to 2 meaty smoked ham hocks
• 8 cups low-sodium chicken broth, or water, as used in historic recipe
• 1 large yellow onion, finely chopped
• 3 stalks celery, with leafy tops, diced small
• 2 medium carrots, peeled and finely diced
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tbsp unsalted butter, for sautéing vegetables
• 1 large russet potato, peeled, boiled, and mashed smooth
• 2 whole bay leaves, dried
• 1 tsp apple cider vinegar, stirred in at finish for bright balance
• ¼ cup fresh flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped, for garnish
• 1 tsp freshly cracked black pepper, to taste (salt is usually provided by ham hocks)