Description
A comforting ham and bean soup made with a leftover ham bone for rich flavor and nostalgia.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 large ham bone (with meat attached)
- 1 pound dried navy beans or Great Northern beans, rinsed
- 8 cups water or low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 large yellow onion, chopped
- 2 carrots, chopped
- 2 celery stalks, chopped
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 cup shredded leftover ham, cut into bite-sized pieces (optional, for later)
Instructions
- If you have time, soak the dried beans overnight in water. Drain them before starting the soup. If you skip soaking, be prepared to increase the simmer time.
- Place the ham bone, rinsed beans, water or broth, onion, carrots, celery, bay leaves, thyme, and pepper into a large stockpot or Dutch oven.
- Bring the mixture to a boil over high heat. Once boiling, reduce the heat immediately to low, cover the pot partially, and let it simmer.
- Simmer for 2 to 3 hours, or until the beans are completely tender. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking.
- Remove the ham bone from the pot. Discard the bone and bay leaves.
- Shred any remaining meat from the bone and return the meat to the soup. If you have extra leftover ham, add the shredded pieces now.
- Continue to simmer for another 15 minutes to allow the flavors to meld. If you prefer a thicker soup, mash some of the beans against the side of the pot.
- Taste and add salt only if needed, as the ham bone usually provides enough saltiness.
- Serve hot, perhaps with cornbread for dipping.
Notes
Soaking beans overnight is recommended for best texture. Experiment with adding different spices or vegetables for variations.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 180 minutes
- Category: Soup
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 55g
- Fiber: 10g
- Protein: 32g
- Cholesterol: 60mg
Keywords: ham, bean soup, comfort food, leftovers, hearty soup
