In the realm of comforting and hearty soups, ham and bean soup reigns supreme. This classic dish, often associated with chilly days and cozy kitchens, is a delightful symphony of flavors and textures that warms the soul. With its tender ham, plump beans, and aromatic broth, this soup is a true crowd-pleaser. While there's a traditional foundation to this beloved recipe, variations abound, offering a diverse culinary landscape to explore. From the classic combination of ham and navy beans to adventurous twists featuring smoked ham hocks or a medley of beans, each variation promises a unique taste experience. Discover the secrets behind this culinary gem, with two distinct recipes that showcase the versatility of ham and bean soup. The first recipe, a "Contest-Winning" creation, elevates the soup with the addition of smoky bacon, diced tomatoes, and a touch of brown sugar for a complex and flavorful broth. The second recipe, a "Slow Cooker Ham and Bean Soup," offers convenience without compromising taste. Simply toss all ingredients into your slow cooker, let it work its magic, and come home to a comforting pot of soup, ready to nourish and delight.
Here are our top 6 tried and tested recipes!
MOM'S HAM AND BEAN SOUP
I could not find the perfect recipe so this is my recipe that I came up with after comparing three different ones. I combined the ingredients that I liked and mom's ham and bean soup was invented. Enjoy!
Provided by BIGLERMOM
Categories Soups, Stews and Chili Recipes Soup Recipes Pork Soup Recipes Ham Soup
Time 10h20m
Yield 8
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Place Great Northern beans into a large container and cover with several inches of cool water; let stand 8 hours to overnight. Drain water and transfer beans to a large stockpot.
- Mix ham hocks, water, celery, onion, carrot, garlic, thyme, black pepper, and bay leaf with beans in the stockpot; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium low and simmer until ham is coming off the bones, about 2 hours.
- Remove ham hocks from soup. Cut meat from bones, discarding fat and bones. Return meat to the pot. Continue cooking until beans reach desired softness.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 396.8 calories, Carbohydrate 25.3 g, Cholesterol 68 mg, Fat 21.5 g, Fiber 7.9 g, Protein 25.1 g, SaturatedFat 7.4 g, Sodium 89.5 mg, Sugar 2.4 g
BASIC HAM AND BEAN SOUP
Hearty ham and bean soup. Easy to make and a great way to use a leftover ham bone. This soup also has lots of mixed vegetables.
Provided by J. A. McConville
Categories Soups, Stews and Chili Recipes Soup Recipes Beans and Peas
Time 3h
Yield 9
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Rinse the beans, sorting out any broken or discolored ones. In a large pot over high heat, bring the water to a boil. Add the salt and the beans and remove from heat. Let beans sit in the hot water for at least 60 minutes.
- After the 60 minutes of soaking, return the pot to high heat and place the ham bone, carrots, celery, onion, garlic, mustard and bay leaves in the pot. Stir well, bring to a boil, reduce heat to low and simmer for 60 more minutes.
- Remove ham bone and discard. Stir in the chopped ham and simmer for 30 more minutes. Season with ground white pepper to taste.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 256.9 calories, Carbohydrate 29 g, Cholesterol 30 mg, Fat 8 g, Fiber 9 g, Protein 18.1 g, SaturatedFat 2.7 g, Sodium 771.4 mg, Sugar 1.5 g
THE BEST BEAN AND HAM SOUP
I make this hearty soup using the ham bone from our Easter spiral ham. I serve it with corn muffins and fresh fruit. It makes a huge pot of soup, so invite some friends or just freeze several portions for later use. Remember to soak the beans the night before you make the soup.
Provided by BenevolentEmpress
Categories Soups, Stews and Chili Recipes Soup Recipes Pork Soup Recipes Ham Soup
Time 10h25m
Yield 12
Number Of Ingredients 18
Steps:
- Place the soaked beans into a large pot and fill with enough water to cover by about 1 inch. Bring to a boil, then simmer over low for 30 minutes. Drain. Add the ham bone, ham, onion, celery, carrots, tomatoes, vegetable juice, and vegetable broth. Season with Worcestershire sauce, Dijon mustard, chili powder, bay leaves, pepper, parsley and lemon juice. Pour in enough of the chicken broth to cover the ingredients.
- Simmer over low heat, stirring occasionally, for about 8 hours. Add more chicken broth as needed throughout the day. Remove the ham bone and season with salt if needed. Continue to simmer for a couple more hours. Remove bay leaves before serving.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 259.7 calories, Carbohydrate 37.9 g, Cholesterol 13.9 mg, Fat 3.6 g, Fiber 14.8 g, Protein 17.3 g, SaturatedFat 0.9 g, Sodium 1105.3 mg, Sugar 6.5 g
HAM AND BEAN SOUP
This is easily the best Ham and Bean Soup we've ever had! It's a simple, adaptable recipe, perfect with chunks of crusty bread.
Provided by Kaitlin
Categories Soup
Time 5h20m
Number Of Ingredients 18
Steps:
- Heat a Dutch oven (you can also use a thick-bottomed soup pot, but may need to stir more often to prevent burning) over medium heat for about 3 minutes or so, until it's nice and hot. Add the oil and the onions. Cook until the onions begin to turn translucent. Add the garlic and cook for 1-2 minutes.
- Stir in the chopped celery and carrots, and cook for an additional 5-6 minutes. Add the beans, followed by the water. Increase the heat to high.
- Add the bay leaves, dried thyme, garlic powder, onion powder, white pepper, black pepper, paprika, and chicken bouillon paste. (If you don't have chicken bouillon paste, simply use chicken stock in place of the water.) Bring to a boil.
- Stir in the ham. I like to cut it into big shards/shreds for extra texture. (Sarah likes hers cubed and orderly though. I won't judge either way!) If you're using a ham hock instead of ham, you can add it in now.
- Reduce the heat to medium-low so the soup is at a somewhat energetic simmer--it should always be at a low bubble. Cook for 4-5 hours, stirring periodically. If the soup isn't cooking down, you may want to increase the heat to medium. Every stove is different, so don't just set it and forget it. Periodically check liquid levels.
- In the last hour of cooking, add the fresh parsley, and cook for another hour. It's done when the beans and carrots are tender, and the soup is thickened. If you used a ham hock, fish out any bones, and chop up any large pieces of meat and skin (keeping the skin is optional) that don't break down during the cooking process before serving.
- This soup is quite forgiving. If it ends up too salty for your tastes, just add water, and lightly mash some of the beans to release their starchiness and re-thicken the soup. If you are reheating the soup and there is not enough liquid, just add 1-2 cups of water to bring it back to your desired consistency.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 317 kcal, Carbohydrate 40 g, Protein 19 g, Fat 9 g, SaturatedFat 3 g, TransFat 1 g, Cholesterol 25 mg, Sodium 906 mg, Fiber 12 g, Sugar 5 g, ServingSize 1 serving
SIMPLY THE BEST HAM & NAVY BEAN SOUP
A combination of different recipes. I couldn't find any one recipe that tasted the way I like bean soup. Try it you will like it.
Provided by draitz
Categories Beans
Time 23m
Yield 8-10 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- Rinse and sort out navy beans.
- In a crock pot cover beans with 4 cups of chicken broth and soak overnight.
- Next day: Do not drain off broth.
- Add 2 more cups of chicken broth.
- Add remaining ingredients .
- Cook on high 3 to 4 hours until ham hocks become tender.
- Remove meat from hocks and cut into small pieces,return to mixture.
- Continue cooking on low for another 6 to 8 hours.
- You may have to add additional chicken broth if soup too thick. If too thin add instant potatoes.
QUICK HAM AND BEAN SOUP
Steps:
- In a large saucepan, saute the carrots, celery and onion in butter until tender. Stir in the remaining ingredients. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cook for 15 minutes or until heated through. Discard bay leaf.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 168 calories, Fat 7g fat (3g saturated fat), Cholesterol 30mg cholesterol, Sodium 1242mg sodium, Carbohydrate 14g carbohydrate (3g sugars, Fiber 4g fiber), Protein 12g protein.
Tips:
- Use a flavorful ham hock: A meaty ham hock will add delicious flavor to the soup. You can also use a smoked ham hock for a smoky flavor.
- Soak the beans overnight: Soaking the beans overnight will help to soften them and reduce the cooking time. If you don't have time to soak the beans overnight, you can quick-soak them by boiling them for 1 minute, then removing them from the heat and letting them sit for 1 hour.
- Use a variety of vegetables: This recipe calls for carrots, celery, and onion, but you can also add other vegetables such as potatoes, green beans, or corn.
- Season the soup to taste: Add salt, pepper, and other seasonings to taste. You can also add a bay leaf or two for extra flavor.
- Let the soup simmer: Simmering the soup for at least 30 minutes will help to develop the flavors. The longer you simmer the soup, the more flavorful it will be.
Conclusion:
This contest-winning ham and bean soup is a hearty, flavorful soup that is perfect for a cold winter day. It is easy to make and can be tailored to your own taste. So next time you are looking for a delicious and satisfying soup, give this recipe a try.
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