Description
A comforting Ham and Bean Soup that blends flavors and textures effortlessly. Perfect for chilly evenings, this hearty dish is easy to prepare in a slow cooker.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 tablespoons olive oil or butter
- 1 large yellow onion, diced
- 3 medium carrots, peeled and diced
- 3 celery stalks, diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 meaty ham bone
- 2–3 smoked ham hocks or 2–3 cups diced leftover ham
- 1 pound dried great northern beans, rinsed and picked over
- 8 cups low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme (or 3–4 fresh sprigs)
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 1–2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar or fresh lemon juice (optional)
- Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Prepare the Beans (if using dried): Soak your beans overnight in water, then rinse. If you forgot to soak them, just add them dry; the slow cooker will take care of it.
- Sauté the Aromatics: Heat the olive oil or butter in a large pot or your slow cooker on the sauté setting. Add the onion, carrots, and celery, cooking until they’re softened and smelling divine. Add in the garlic and cook for one more minute.
- Simmer the Soup: Toss the soaked beans, ham bone or hocks, broth, bay leaves, and thyme into the pot. Bring the concoction to a boil, then lower the heat and let it simmer for about 90-120 minutes, or until the beans are tender.
- Prepare the Ham: Once those beans are tender, retrieve the ham bone or hocks. Shred the meat off, discarding any fat, skin, or bones, and add the meat back to the pot if you’re using diced ham. Let it cook for an additional 20 minutes to meld those flavors.
- Thicken the Soup: If you like your soup thicker, mash a portion of the beans and veggies against the side of the pot and stir them back in.
- Final Seasoning: Remove the bay leaves, season to taste with black pepper, and if you want a little kick, add the apple cider vinegar or lemon juice.
- Serve: Ladle the warm soup into bowls, garnishing with a sprinkle of fresh parsley. Enjoy!
Notes
This soup gets even better after a day in the fridge, perfect for leftovers and easy reheating.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 120 minutes
- Category: Soup
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 50g
- Fiber: 10g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 50mg