Description
Hearty bean and ham soup brings comfort straight from grandma’s kitchen, warming souls with rich, smoky flavors. Generations of home cooks have perfected this classic dish, inviting you to savor each spoonful of rustic, satisfying goodness.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Protein:
- 1.5 pounds ham (including ham bone)
- 1 (20 ounces) dried 15-bean soup mix
Vegetables:
- 2 carrots, chopped
- 2 celery stalks, chopped
- 1 onion, chopped
- 1 (14.5 ounces) can diced tomatoes, undrained
- 2 bay leaves
Liquid and Seasonings:
- 4 cups vegetable broth
- 1 cup vegetable juice
- Water (enough to soak and cook beans)
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- Salt, to taste
- Additional chicken broth as needed
Instructions
- Submerge dried beans in a spacious container filled with water, allowing them to soak thoroughly for a full 8-hour period or throughout the night.
- Eliminate soaking liquid and transfer beans to a large cooking vessel. Introduce fresh water, covering beans by approximately one inch. Elevate to a rolling boil over moderate heat, then decrease temperature to a gentle simmer. Cook for half an hour, then drain excess liquid.
- Consolidate prepared beans, ham, ham bone, chopped carrots, diced celery, minced onion, and canned tomatoes into the pot, ensuring even distribution.
- Incorporate vegetable broth, vegetable juice, tangy lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, Dijon mustard, warming chili powder, fresh parsley, ground pepper, and aromatic bay leaves. Blend ingredients thoroughly.
- Pour chicken broth until all components are completely immersed. Maintain a low, consistent simmer for 8 hours, periodically stirring and replenishing liquid to prevent drying.
- After 8-hour cooking duration, extract ham bone and adjust seasoning with salt according to preference.
- Continue simmering for an additional 1-2 hours, allowing flavors to meld and intensify. Remove bay leaves before presenting the hearty soup.
Notes
- Soak beans overnight to reduce cooking time and improve digestibility, breaking down complex sugars that cause gas.
- Use low-sodium broths and ham to control salt intake, perfect for health-conscious individuals watching their sodium levels.
- Customize the soup by swapping ham with smoked turkey or plant-based protein for vegetarian and lighter protein options.
- Freeze extra portions in airtight containers for convenient meal prep, maintaining flavor and texture up to 3 months.
- Prep Time: 8 hours
- Cook Time: 10 hours
- Category: Dinner, Lunch, Snacks
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 10 g
- Protein: 20 g
- Cholesterol: 60 mg