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Hearty Ham and Bean Soup from Leftover Ham Bone

A close-up of a steaming bowl of Ham and bean soup filled with white beans, shredded ham, and diced carrots.
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Make a thick, savory, and comforting soup using your leftover Christmas ham bone and meat. This recipe uses simple ingredients to create a nourishing winter warmer.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 leftover smoked ham bone (with meat attached)
  • 1 pound dried navy beans or Great Northern beans, rinsed
  • 8 cups water or low-sodium chicken broth
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 large yellow onion, chopped
  • 2 carrots, chopped
  • 2 celery stalks, chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, or to taste
  • Salt, to taste (use sparingly)
  • 1 cup shredded leftover ham meat

Instructions

  1. If using dried beans, soak them overnight, or use the quick-soak method: cover beans with water, bring to a boil for 2 minutes, remove from heat, cover, and let stand for 1 hour. Drain the soaked beans.
  2. Place the ham bone, drained beans, and 8 cups of water or broth into a large pot or Dutch oven. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat, cover partially, and simmer for 1 to 1.5 hours, or until the beans are tender.
  3. While the beans simmer, prepare the vegetables. Heat the olive oil in a separate skillet over medium heat. Add the chopped onion, carrots, and celery. Cook until softened, about 5 to 7 minutes.
  4. Add the minced garlic and dried thyme to the skillet and cook for 1 minute more until fragrant.
  5. Remove the ham bone from the soup pot. Discard the bone. Shred any remaining meat from the bone and return the meat to the pot.
  6. Add the cooked vegetables, bay leaf, and black pepper to the soup pot. Simmer for another 20 minutes to allow flavors to meld.
  7. Remove the bay leaf. Stir in the shredded leftover ham meat. Taste the soup. Add salt only if needed, remembering the ham bone added saltiness.
  8. For a thicker soup, mash about 1 cup of the beans against the side of the pot with a spoon, or use an immersion blender briefly.
  9. Serve hot.

Notes

  • If you prefer a soup with tomato flavor, add 1/4 cup of tomato paste with the vegetables in step 3.
  • This recipe is excellent for freezing; remove the bay leaf before storing.
  • Use any white bean variety you prefer for this hearty bean stew.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://kitchenslang.com/ham-and-bean-soup-recipe/