Senate bean soup facts for kids
Senate bean soup at the Capitol Visitor Center
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| Alternative names | U.S. Senate Bean Soup |
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| Course | Soup |
| Place of origin | United States |
| Region or state | United States Senate |
| Main ingredients | Navy beans, ham hocks, sometimes mashed potatoes |
U.S. Senate Bean Soup is a special soup served every day in the dining room of the United States Senate. The Senate is where elected officials from each state work together to make laws for the country. This soup is made with navy beans, ham hocks (a part of a pig's leg), and onion. It's been a daily tradition there for over 100 years!
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Why Is Bean Soup Always Served?
The Senate's own website says that bean soup is always on the menu. There are many stories about why this tradition started, but no one knows for sure which one is true. It's a bit of a mystery!
A Soup Shortage During World War II
During World War II (in 1943), there was a time when food was rationed. This meant people could only buy a limited amount of certain foods. One day, the Senate kitchen didn't have enough navy beans to make the soup. A newspaper called the Washington Times-Herald even wrote about it!
But don't worry, the soup tradition didn't stop for long. A politician named Bob Dole once said that more beans were found by the very next day. Since then, the bean soup has been served without any breaks!
How Is Senate Bean Soup Made?
There are a couple of ways the Senate kitchen has made this famous soup over the years.
The Modern Senate Recipe
In 1967, a special note described the recipe used today. It calls for "two pounds of small Michigan Navy Beans."
A food writer named John Egerton thinks the idea of using ham hocks might come from Southern cooking. Even though the politicians who made the soup famous weren't from the South, many of the cooks at the time were Black Southerners. They often cooked bean soup in their own traditional style.
For a while, the Senate dining services stopped using real ham. Instead, they used a soup base. But in 1984, a new manager brought back the ham hocks. He said it made a "real difference" in the taste!
Here are two recipes for the Senate's famous bean soup:
The Famous Senate Restaurant Bean Soup Recipe
2 pounds [0.91 kg] dried navy beans
four US quarts [3.8 L] hot water
1+1⁄2 pounds [0.68 kg] smoked ham hocks
1 onion, chopped
2 tablespoons butter
salt and pepper to taste
Wash the navy beans and run hot water through them until they are slightly whitened. Place beans into pot with hot water. Add ham hocks and simmer approximately three hours in a covered pot, stirring occasionally. Remove ham hocks and set aside to cool. Dice meat and return to soup. Lightly brown the onion in butter. Add to soup. Before serving, bring to a boil and season with salt and pepper. Serves 8.
Bean Soup Recipe (for five gallons)
3 pounds dried navy beans
2 pounds of ham and a ham bone
1 quart mashed potatoes
5 onions, chopped
2 stalks of celery, chopped
four cloves garlic, chopped
half a bunch of parsley, chopped
Clean the beans, then cook them dry. Add ham, bone and water and bring to a boil. Add potatoes and mix thoroughly. Add chopped vegetables and bring to a boil. Simmer for one hour before serving.
Where Can You Try the Soup?
If you visit Washington, D.C., you might be able to try the Senate bean soup yourself!
Visiting the Senate Dining Room
As of 2010, regular people can sometimes eat the soup in the actual Senate dining room. You need a special "request letter" from a senator to get in. There's also a dress code, so you have to dress nicely.
Other Places to Find the Soup
The soup is also served at the Capitol Visitor Center restaurant. This is a public place where visitors can learn about the U.S. Capitol building. You can also find it at the Longworth Cafeteria.
During the Cold War, there was a secret bunker called Project Greek Island. It was built as an emergency place for Congress to go. This bunker even had a cafeteria that would have served Senate bean soup!
How Much Does the Soup Cost?
The price of a bowl of Senate bean soup has changed over the years:
- 1940: $0.15
- 1996: $1.00
- 1997: $1.10
- 2004: $4.50
- 2008: $5.00
- 2010: $6.00
- 2014: $3.60 for a 16-ounce (450 g) bowl
You can even buy Dominique's Senate Bean Soup in a can at grocery stores and online!
