Simplebeansoupwithhambone Recipes

HAM AND BEAN SOUP

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.

HAM BONE AND BEAN SOUP

Steps:

• Place bean mix into a large bowl and cover with several inches of water; soak for at least 24 hours. Drain completely.
• Bring chicken stock to a boil in a pot large enough to hold the beans and, eventually, the ham bone. Add the soaked beans; reduce heat and simmer until tender, about 1 hour.
• Bring stock and beans back to a boil. Add ham bone, onion, carrots, celery, garlic, and bay leaves. Reduce heat to low and simmer until vegetables are soft, about 1 hour. Add chopped ham, liquid smoke, and mustard powder. Stir and let simmer until flavors blend, about 30 minutes more.
• Remove ham bone from the soup. Season with salt and pepper.

WHITE BEAN AND HAM BONE SOUP

Steps:

• Combine ham bone and 4 quarts of water in a large stock pot of Dutch oven at least the night before. Bring to a boil, cover, reduce heat and simmer for 10 to 12 hours.
• In the meantime, place beans in a large pot with water to cover; soak overnight. Drain beans the next day and return to the pot.
• Remove ham bone from the pot and pick off any edible meat. Strain the stock and measure out 3 quarts for the soup. Remaining stock can be frozen.
• Pour 3 quarts of stock over the soaked beans. Add ham, celery, carrots, onion, and garlic. Season with salt and pepper. Bring soup to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer. Cover, tilting the lid to allow steam to escape, and simmer until beans are tender, 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Add sherry in the last 30 minutes of cooking and season with salt and pepper.
• Ladle soup into bowls and sprinkle with fresh parsley.

SIMPLE BEAN SOUP WITH HAM BONE

Steps:

• Simmer beans in water with ham bone for 2 hours.
• Add other ingredients, simmer 2 hours, until beans are tender.
• Remove meat from bone, discard bone.

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.

MOM'S HAM BONE BEAN SOUP

Steps:

• Soak beans according to package directions, either overnight, or quick 1 hour soak. Drain and rinse beans.
• Add water, ham bone and broths to beans in stockpot. Cut 1 stalk of celery into 3 pieces and add to beans along with chopped onion and bay leaves. Bring to boil, cover partially, lower heat and simmer 90 minutes, or until beans are tender. Remove bay leaves and celery.
• Add tomatoes, chopped carrots and other two stalks of celery, chopped finely. Remove bone and take off any remaining ham and chop finely. Add additional ham if needed to make 2 cups and add to soup.
• Use a potato masher or immersion blender to blend slightly, thickening the soup with the mashed beans.
• Great served with a dolop of horseradish.