Description
Hearty white bean and ham soup brings comfort from Southern kitchens, blending rustic ingredients with rich culinary traditions. Savory ham, tender beans, and aromatic herbs create a satisfying meal you’ll crave on chilly evenings.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Protein:
- 2 to 3 pounds smoked ham shanks or ham hocks
- 1 pound (2 1/2 cups) dried white beans (Cannellini or Great Northern)
Vegetables:
- 1 small onion, diced (about 1 cup)
- 2 to 3 ribs celery, chopped (about 1 cup)
- 1 medium carrot, chopped (about 2/3 cup)
- 2 to 3 cloves garlic, minced
Seasonings and Liquids:
- 2 quarts water
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 2 teaspoons Herbes de Provence or Italian seasoning
- Tabasco sauce, to taste
- Salt, to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- Fresh parsley, chopped for garnish
Instructions
- Hydrate dried white beans by submerging in boiling water, then letting them soak for 2 hours. Drain thoroughly and reserve.
- Place ham shanks in a large pot, covering with water and Herbes de Provence. Gently simmer on low heat for 1 hour, partially covered.
- While ham cooks, caramelize onions in olive oil over medium-high heat until translucent, approximately 5 minutes. Quickly incorporate minced garlic and cook for an additional minute.
- Combine soaked beans, sautéed aromatics, chopped celery, and carrots into the ham broth. Maintain a gentle simmer.
- Continue cooking uncovered for 40 minutes, allowing vegetables to soften and ham to become tender enough to separate from bone. Extract bones, shred meat, and reintegrate into soup.
- Season with Tabasco sauce, salt, and pepper according to preference. Garnish with freshly chopped parsley just before serving, enhancing the soup’s aromatic profile.
Notes
- Soak beans thoroughly to reduce cooking time and improve digestibility, ensuring they’re soft and easy to break down.
- Choose high-quality ham shanks with good marbling for richer, more intense flavor that permeates the entire soup.
- Consider using smoked ham hocks for deeper, smokier undertones that elevate the soup’s overall taste profile.
- Customize for dietary needs by substituting ham with smoked turkey or vegetable broth for a lighter, meat-free version that maintains robust flavor complexity.
- Prep Time: 2 hours
- Cook Time: 1 hour 46 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Fiber: 12 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 50 mg