Indulge in the classic comfort food of ham and beans, elevated with a variety of flavors and textures. From the traditional Southern-style ham and beans with a smoky ham hock and tender beans to the hearty and flavorful ham and bean soup infused with aromatic vegetables, this article presents a diverse collection of recipes that showcase the versatility of this classic dish. Explore the smoky and spicy Cajun ham and beans, featuring a medley of vegetables and bold seasonings, or try the unique ham and white bean chili, where tender ham meets creamy white beans in a rich and flavorful chili broth. For a lighter option, the ham and three bean salad combines ham, a trio of beans, and fresh vegetables in a tangy vinaigrette dressing. And for a taste of the Mediterranean, the Spanish ham and bean stew brings together ham, beans, and a medley of vegetables in a vibrant tomato-based broth. Whether you prefer a comforting soup, a hearty salad, or a flavorful stew, this article offers a culinary journey that celebrates the versatility and deliciousness of ham and beans.
Let's cook with our recipes!
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
HAM AND BEANS
My Mom created this recipe and I really enjoyed it as a child. As an adult, my taste changed just a bit so I modified her recipe to 'kick it up' a bit. It is fabulous even though the ingredients list is quite short! This is a must make with leftover ham and everyone agrees it's absolutely delicious.
Provided by STEPHNDON
Categories Soups, Stews and Chili Recipes Soup Recipes Pork Soup Recipes Ham Soup
Time 10h15m
Yield 7
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Rinse beans in a large pot; discard shriveled beans and any small stones. Add 8 cups of cold water. Let stand overnight or at least 8 hours. Drain and rinse beans.
- Return beans to pot and add ham, onion, brown sugar, salt, pepper, cayenne and parsley and water to cover. Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer 1 1/2 to 2 hours, until beans are tender. Add more water if necessary during cooking time.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 300.3 calories, Carbohydrate 42.8 g, Cholesterol 18.2 mg, Fat 6.7 g, Fiber 10.7 g, Protein 18.6 g, SaturatedFat 2.4 g, Sodium 423.5 mg, Sugar 10.5 g
HAM AND BEANS AND MORE
Ham and bean soup can be a little bland and requires a lot of salt to be palatable, but not so with this version. It is bursting with flavor.
Provided by Roxanne Dalton
Categories Main Dish Recipes Pork Ham
Time 14h30m
Yield 8
Number Of Ingredients 16
Steps:
- Place the beans into a large container and cover with several inches of cool water; let stand 8 hours to overnight. Drain and rinse before using.
- Combine the soaked beans, 4 cups of water, celery, onion, bay leaves, cumin, garlic powder, and parsley into a slow cooker.
- Melt the butter with the olive oil in a skillet over medium heat; cook and stir the leeks in the butter mixture until tender and the smaller pieces start to brown, 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer the leeks to the slow cooker. In the same pan, cook and stir the ham until the edges start to brown; stir into the soup. Place the bacon into the hot skillet, and pan-fry until the bacon is crisp, about 10 minutes. Cut the bacon into bite-size pieces and stir into the soup. Pour the chicken stock into the hot skillet, and stir to dissolve any brown flavor bits from the skillet; pour the chicken stock into the soup. Season with sea salt and pepper.
- Set the cooker to Low cook the soup until the beans are very tender, 6 to 8 hours. Roughly mash about half the beans with a potato masher to thicken the soup.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 458.9 calories, Carbohydrate 39.9 g, Cholesterol 47.5 mg, Fat 22.3 g, Fiber 12.2 g, Protein 25.5 g, SaturatedFat 7.7 g, Sodium 944.6 mg, Sugar 2.6 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
CROCK POT HAM AND BEANS
This is cheap eating at it's best. Really good for scraping by at the end of the month if your cash gets low. Goes best with freshly baked corn muffins drizzled with honey.
Provided by PalatablePastime
Categories Ham
Time 9h
Yield 4 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Sort beans and soak in enough water to cover overnight.
- Or you may sort them and place in a saucepan with 2-inches of water to cover.
- Bring them to a boil, boil for 3 minutes, then cover and remove from heat.
- Allow to sit for one hour after boiling (don't lift the lid).
- Whichever method you use, rinse and drain the beans before placing them in the crock pot.
- Put the rinsed beans, garlic, onion, salt, pepper, parsley, cloves, ham (chopped into large chunks) or ham hocks into the crock pot along with 6 cups water or broth.
- Cover crock, and cook on low for about 8 hours, or until beans are tender and creamy.
- Skim any excess fat, if necessary, before serving.
HAM AND BEANS
Pink or Pinto beans can be used and I cook with a ham bone or ham hocks whichever I have on had. Very tasty and the spice level can be adjusted according to the amount of jalapenos used. Easy and good!
Provided by connie427
Categories One Dish Meal
Time 1h
Yield 8-10 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Soak beans overnight or cover with water and bring to boil and simmer for 2 minutes.
- Turn off heat and let stand for one hour. Then drain off all liquid.
- Melt bacon fat in a 5 quart pot and add chiles, onions, garlic, oregano and cumin. Saute til soft about 5 minutes.
- Add drained beans, broth, water can be used instead of the broth, but I use 4c broth, and bay leaf. Bring to a boil, stirring. Reduce heat and simmer til beans are tender or about 2 hours. Add cooked ham.
- After cooking, add salt and cayenne and remove the bay leaf. More salt can be added according to your taste.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 509.4, Fat 2.1, SaturatedFat 0.5, Sodium 490.7, Carbohydrate 94.1, Fiber 18.6, Sugar 4.2, Protein 31.4
Tips:
- Soak the beans overnight: This will help to reduce the cooking time and make the beans more digestible.
- Use a variety of beans: Don't be afraid to mix and match different types of beans. This will add flavor and texture to your dish.
- Add aromatics to the pot: Onions, garlic, and celery are classic aromatics that add flavor to bean dishes. You can also add other vegetables, such as carrots or bell peppers.
- Use a good quality ham: The ham is the star of the show in this dish, so it's important to use a good quality ham. Look for a ham that is smoked or cured with natural ingredients.
- Cook the beans until they are tender: Beans should be cooked until they are tender but still hold their shape. Overcooked beans will be mushy and bland.
- Season the dish to taste: Add salt, pepper, and other seasonings to taste. You may also want to add a splash of vinegar or lemon juice to brighten the flavors.
- Serve the dish with a variety of sides: Ham and beans is a hearty and flavorful dish that can be served with a variety of sides. Some popular sides include cornbread, mashed potatoes, and green beans.
Conclusion:
Ham and beans is a classic dish that is easy to make and loved by people of all ages. With a few simple tips, you can make a delicious pot of ham and beans that will be the star of your next meal. So next time you're looking for a hearty and flavorful dish, give ham and beans a try. You won't be disappointed.
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