Edison Grainery produces some of the best beans we have tasted.
The navy bean is considered a pantry staple in the United States. And, we love to always have some on hand. This small, pure-white bean is also called Boston bean or haricot bean and is native to the Americas, where it was domesticated. It is most famous in baked beans.

Did you know that the name navy bean was coined because it has been served as a staple to sailors in the U.S. Navy since the 1800s?

Edison Grainery has consistently impressed us with their delicious products, variety, commitment to quality, and not to mention their elegant packaging.

Edison Grainery’s mission is to make certain everyone can eat organically. This means their products are processed and stored in a dedicated, allergen-free warehouse.

And, because their parent company is Edison Grains, they eliminate the daisy chain of suppliers, producers, manufacturers, and distributors. This helps to keep their prices low.

Plus, they are an Oakland-based company, and who doesn’t love local?

Here is our recipe for Senate Bean Soup—one of the more common occurrences of the Navy Bean in American cuisine. It’s from the 800+ pages of The Congressional Cookbook and has been served every day in the Senate restaurant since it was introduced in the early 1900s. It is, simple but very satisfying.

Senate Bean Soup
Yields 8 servings
It’s great to have in your freezer for chilly fall nights, or for a tasty lunch when the rain finally comes.

Ingredients
2 pounds dried navy beans
4 quarts hot water
1 1/2 pounds smoked ham hocks
1 onion, chopped
2 tablespoons butter
salt and pepper to taste

Directions
Wash the navy beans, and run hot water through them until they are slightly whitened.

Place the beans into a pot with hot water. Add the ham hocks and simmer approximately three hours in a covered pot, stirring occasionally.

Remove the ham hocks, and set aside to cool. Dice the meat and return to soup.

Lightly brown the onion in butter, and add it to the soup.

Before serving, bring the soup to a boil, and season with salt and pepper.