My bean soup went from bland to great after a trip to the Spokane market

For years my cheap bean soup was just beans, water, and a bay leaf, super boring. Then last fall I went to the Spokane farmers market and got a smoked ham hock for $3. I tossed it in the pot with the beans and let it simmer all day. The flavor was totally different, rich and smoky without needing fancy broth. What's your favorite cheap ingredient that makes a simple dish way better?

2 comments

2 Comments

noah_chen171h ago

Sounds like a lot of fuss for soup. Olivia_carr7 is right about tomato paste though, that stuff actually works.

olivia_carr75h ago

That's the best kind of kitchen upgrade. It feels like a lot of great cooking is just about finding one amazing, cheap base ingredient. A single thing like a ham hock or a tube of tomato paste can build a whole flavor world.