Description
Ham and Bean Soup is a heartwarming dish that combines savory ham with creamy beans, creating the perfect comfort food for chilly nights.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 ham hock (smoked for extra flavor)
- 1 cup dried navy beans (soaked overnight)
- 2 medium carrots (chopped)
- 2 stalks celery (chopped)
- 1 medium onion (finely chopped)
- 3 cloves garlic (minced)
- 2 bay leaves
- 6 cups chicken broth
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- Salt & pepper to taste
Instructions
- Sauté the aromatics: Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add onions, carrots, and celery; cook for about 5 minutes until softened.
- Add garlic & ham hock: Stir in minced garlic and the ham hock; cook for an additional minute until fragrant.
- Combine beans & broth: Add soaked navy beans and chicken broth, ensuring all ingredients are submerged. Scrape any browned bits from the pot.
- Season & simmer: Add bay leaves, salt, and pepper. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer for about 1 hour until beans are tender.
- Serve: Remove bay leaves. Serve hot with fresh herbs as garnish and crusty bread on the side.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 60 minutes
- Category: Main
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup (240g)
- Calories: 290
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 11g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 8g
- Protein: 20g
- Cholesterol: 40mg
Keywords: For added nutrition, consider including diced potatoes or spinach. Swap ham for smoked turkey or bacon for a lighter alternative.