Tennessee-style Bean Soup with Cornbread

Tennessee-style Bean Soup with Cornbread is a hearty and delicious dish that is perfect for a cold winter day. This dish is a classic Southern recipe that is sure to warm you up from the inside out. The key to making this soup is to use high-quality ingredients and to take your time when cooking it.
To make Tennessee-style Bean Soup with Cornbread, you will need the following ingredients:

For the soup:

- 1 pound dried navy beans
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 6 cups chicken broth
- 1 ham hock

For the cornbread:

- 1 cup cornmeal
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup milk
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil
- 1 egg
To start, rinse the navy beans and soak them overnight in a large pot of water. The next day, drain the beans and set them aside. In a large Dutch oven or soup pot, sauté the onion and garlic in olive oil until they are soft and fragrant. Add the salt, black pepper, paprika, and cayenne pepper and stir to combine. Add the chicken broth, ham hock, and soaked beans to the pot and bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and simmer the soup for 2-3 hours, or until the beans are tender and the soup is thick and creamy.
While the soup is cooking, preheat your oven to 400 degrees F. In a large mixing bowl, combine the cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. In a separate bowl, whisk together the milk, vegetable oil, and egg. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir until just combined. Pour the batter into a greased 9-inch baking dish and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the cornbread is golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
To serve, ladle the Tennessee-style Bean Soup into bowls and top each bowl with a slice of cornbread. The soup should be thick and creamy, with a rich, smoky flavor from the ham hock. The cornbread should be slightly sweet and crumbly, with a golden brown crust. This dish is perfect for a cozy night in or for serving to a crowd at a potluck or party.
Type of dish: Soup and Bread
Main ingredients: Navy beans, ham hock, cornmeal