Yes, you can use dried white beans in place of canned beans, it will just take some extra prep and time. 1. Soak the beans: Rinse the dried beans in cold water, then place them in a large bowl or pot and cover with enough water to submerge them completely. Soak the beans for at least 8 hours or overnight. This step helps to soften the beans and reduce the cooking time. 2. Drain and rinse the beans: After soaking, drain the beans and rinse them with fresh water to remove any excess starch and debris. 3. Add the beans to the soup: Once the beans are soaked and rinsed, you can add them to the soup pot along with the other ingredients at the beginning of the cooking time. 4. Cook the soup: Bring the soup to a boil, then cook as directed in the instructions below. You may need to add more liquid as the soup cooks, so check it once or twice during the cooking time and top up with additional water if needed. 5. Test the beans for doneness: To test if the beans are fully cooked, simply taste a few beans to see if they are tender and creamy. If they are still firm or crunchy, continue cooking until they reach the desired texture.