15 Bean Soup

Name: 15 Bean Soup
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 1 h 40 min
Total time: 2 h
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 pound 15 bean soup mix*; 4 strips of bacon; optional (cut into ½-inch wide strips or 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil (omit for vegetarian bean soup)); 1 large yellow onion (diced); 3 cloves garlic (minced (about 1 tablespoon)); 5 medium carrots (peeled and diced); 3 ribs celery (diced); 1 ham bone – fat removed; optional (plus any leftover ham diced from the bone); 6 cups low sodium chicken broth (use water or unsalted broth if using the ham bone (use vegetable broth for vegetarian bean soup)); 1 bay leaf; 1 can fire-roasted diced tomatoes in their juices ((15-ounces)); 2 teaspoons smoked paprika; 1 teaspoon ground chili powder; 1 teaspoon ground cumin; 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme leaves; ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper; 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar; Kosher salt (to taste); Parmesan cheese (for serving); Chopped fresh parsley (for serving)