Here’s a simple, hearty ham and bean soup recipe you can make at home:
🥣 Ingredients
- 2 cups dried white beans (navy or cannellini)
- 1–2 cups cooked ham (diced) or a ham bone
- 1 medium onion (chopped)
- 2 carrots (sliced)
- 2 celery stalks (chopped)
- 3–4 cloves garlic (minced)
- 6 cups water or chicken broth
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 tsp black pepper
- Salt (to taste)
- Optional: 1 tsp thyme or paprika
🍲 Instructions
- Soak the beans
Rinse and soak overnight in water. (Or quick soak: boil 5 minutes, then let sit 1 hour.) - Cook the base
In a large pot, sauté onion, garlic, carrots, and celery for 5–7 minutes until softened. - Add everything
Add soaked beans, ham (or ham bone), broth, bay leaf, and spices. - Simmer
Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 1.5–2 hours, until beans are tender. - Finish
Remove bay leaf and ham bone (if used). Adjust salt and pepper.
🍽️ Tips
- For thicker soup, mash some beans before serving.
- Add a squeeze of lemon or vinegar at the end for brightness.
- Tastes even better the next day!
If you want, I can show you a quick pressure cooker version or a no-ham (vegetarian) version 👍
