🥣 Ham and Bean Soup
A simple, hearty soup made with beans and smoky ham—classic comfort food that’s filling and budget-friendly.
🧾 Ingredients
- 1–2 cups dried white beans (navy or great northern)
- 1 ham bone or 2–3 cups diced Ham
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2 carrots, chopped
- 2 celery stalks, chopped
- 2–3 garlic cloves, minced
- 6–8 cups water or broth
- 1–2 bay leaves
- 1 tsp black pepper
- Salt (add at the end)
- Optional: thyme or parsley
👨‍🍳 Instructions
1. Prep beans
- Soak overnight in water
(or quick soak: boil 1 minute, then rest 1 hour)
2. Add everything to pot
Combine beans, ham, vegetables, garlic, broth, bay leaves, and pepper.
3. Cook
Stovetop:
- Simmer 1.5–2.5 hours until beans are soft
Slow cooker:
- LOW 7–8 hours or HIGH 4–5 hours
4. Finish
- Remove ham bone, shred meat, return it to soup
- Taste and adjust seasoning
- Remove bay leaves
🍽️ Serve with
- Bread or rolls
- Cornbread
- Rice (optional)
🧠Why it’s popular
- Beans add fiber and thickness
- Ham adds smoky flavor
- Slow cooking makes it rich and comforting
⚠️ Nutrition note
- High in protein and fiber đź‘Ť
- Can be high in sodium ⚠️
- Easy to make lighter with low-sodium broth and less ham
If you want, I can also give you a 30-minute quick version, a low-sodium heart-healthy version, or a thick stew-style version.
