Easy White Bean and Ham Soup Recipe That Warms the Soul

Crafting a hearty white bean and ham soup brings comfort to chilly evenings with minimal effort.

Aromatic herbs dance through tender legumes, creating a symphony of flavors that warm your soul.

Hearty ingredients blend seamlessly, telling a story of rustic home cooking.

Slow-simmered beans absorb rich ham essence, developing deep, complex notes that speak of tradition.

Mediterranean culinary wisdom shines through each spoonful, connecting you to generations of home cooks.

Robust and satisfying, this soup promises to become a cherished recipe in your kitchen.

Dive in and savor every delicious moment of this classic comfort dish.

Reasons to Love White Bean and Ham Soup Recipe

• Craft a Nutritious Meal: Pack your bowl with protein-rich beans, tender ham, and a rainbow of vegetables that deliver incredible nutrients in every spoonful.
• Master Simple Cooking Techniques: Learn an approachable one-pot recipe that requires minimal culinary skills, perfect for home cooks wanting to expand their kitchen confidence.
• Celebrate Budget-Friendly Deliciousness: Transform affordable ingredients like dried beans and ham into a rich, satisfying soup that feeds multiple people without breaking the bank.
• Embrace Versatile Dining: Enjoy this soup as a standalone meal or pair it with crusty bread, making it ideal for casual family dinners, weekend gatherings, or cozy winter nights.

Ingredients for White Bean and Ham Soup Recipe

• Great Northern Beans: A mild and creamy white bean that creates a smooth base for this hearty soup.

• Cooked Ham: A savory meat that adds rich flavor and substance to the soup.

• Onion, Celery, Carrots, Garlic: A classic blend of vegetables that build a deep, flavorful foundation for the soup.

• Italian Seasoning, Salt, Ground Pepper: A simple combination of herbs and spices that enhances the overall taste of the soup.

• Water, Chicken Stock: Provides the necessary liquid for cooking the beans and creating the soup's consistency.

• Olive Oil: Helps to sauté the vegetables and add a subtle richness to the dish.

How to Make White Bean and Ham Soup Recipe

Step 1: Cleanse Dried Beans

Sort through Great Northern beans and remove any stones or unwanted particles. Rinse thoroughly under cool running water to ensure cleanliness.

Step 2: Chop Vegetables

Dice onions, celery, and carrots into uniform small pieces. Finely mince fresh garlic cloves for maximum flavor release.

Step 3: Sauté Vegetable Base

Heat olive oil in a large Dutch oven over medium heat. Toss in diced vegetables and cook until they become soft and slightly translucent, approximately 5-7 minutes. Add minced garlic and cook for an additional 1-2 minutes until aromatic.

Step 4: Combine Liquid and Seasonings

• Rinsed beans
• Italian seasoning blend

Stir ingredients together to distribute evenly.

Step 5: Slow Cook Beans

Bring mixture to a rolling boil, then reduce heat to low. Allow soup to simmer gently, creating a tender bean texture. Cook approximately 2 hours until beans become soft and creamy.

Step 6: Enhance with Protein

Introduce diced cooked ham into the soup. Season with salt and ground black pepper. Continue simmering for 30-60 minutes to marry flavors.

Step 7: Perfect the Consistency

Check soup thickness. If needed, thin with additional water or chicken stock. Taste and adjust seasonings according to preference.

Step 8: Serve and Enjoy

Ladle steaming soup into warm bowls. Serve immediately for maximum comfort and deliciousness.

Pro Tips for White Bean and Ham Soup Recipe

• Soak Beans Overnight: Reduce cooking time by soaking beans in cold water for 8-12 hours before preparing the recipe, which helps soften them faster and promotes better digestion.
• Enhance Flavor Depth: Add a parmesan rind or smoked ham bone during simmering to intensify the soup's rich, savory profile and create more complex undertones.
• Control Salt Levels: Use low-sodium ham and gradually add salt to prevent over-seasoning, allowing you to adjust the taste precisely throughout cooking.
• Boost Nutrition Easily: Incorporate extra vegetables like kale or spinach during the last 15 minutes of cooking to increase the soup's nutritional value and add vibrant color.
• Freeze for Later: Store leftover soup in airtight containers for up to 3 months, ensuring portions are cooled completely before freezing to maintain optimal texture and taste.

Variation Ideas for White Bean and Ham Soup Recipe

• Vegetarian Bean Soup: Replace ham with smoked tofu or tempeh, using vegetable broth instead of water for deeper flavor profile.
• Mediterranean Style: Add chopped sun-dried tomatoes, fresh basil, and swap Italian seasoning with oregano and thyme for a Mediterranean-inspired version.
• Spicy Southwest Variation: Include diced green chiles, cumin, and replace ham with chorizo sausage for a zesty southwestern spin.
• Low-Sodium Option: Use reduced-sodium chicken broth, omit added salt, and select lean ham with minimal salt content to create a heart-healthy alternative.

Pairing Suggestions for White Bean and Ham Soup Recipe

• Crusty Sourdough Sidekick: Warm, artisan sourdough bread provides the ideal crispy companion to soak up the rich, savory broth, adding delightful textural contrast.
• Crisp White Wine Companion: Select a bright, acidic Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio to cut through the soup's hearty richness, refreshing the palate with each sip.
• Green Salad Balancer: Toss a light arugula salad with lemon vinaigrette and shaved parmesan to introduce a zesty, fresh element that complements the soup's deep, warm flavors.

Storage Advice for White Bean and Ham Soup Recipe

• Store leftover soup in an airtight container within 2 hours of cooking. Keeps fresh for 3-4 days in the refrigerator.
• Pour cooled soup into freezer-safe containers or heavy-duty freezer bags. Will maintain quality for up to 4-6 months when sealed properly.
• Transfer desired portion to a microwave-safe bowl. Heat in 1-minute intervals, stirring between each interval until soup reaches 165°F. Add splash of water or broth if soup seems too thick.
• Pour soup into a saucepan over medium-low heat. Stir occasionally and add water or broth to restore original consistency. Warm gently until heated through, approximately 8-10 minutes.

FAQs About White Bean and Ham Soup Recipe

• Why soak dried beans before cooking?

Soaking helps reduce cooking time, improves digestibility, and removes some of the compounds that can cause digestive discomfort. It also helps beans cook more evenly and become softer.

• Can I use canned beans instead of dried beans?

Yes, you can substitute dried beans with canned beans. Drain and rinse the canned beans, and add them later in the cooking process since they’re already cooked. Reduce the cooking time to about 30-45 minutes.

• What type of ham works best for this soup?

Leftover holiday ham, ham hocks, or diced ham steak are excellent choices. They add rich, smoky flavor and provide protein to the soup. Avoid using very lean ham, as some fat helps enhance the overall taste.

White Bean and Ham Soup Recipe

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4.6 from 26 reviews

• Total Time: 2 hours 50 minutes to 3 hours 27 minutes
• Yield: 6 1x

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Description

Hearty White Bean and Ham Soup brings rustic Italian countryside comfort to your kitchen, blending rich smoky ham with creamy cannellini beans. Each spoonful delivers warmth and deep flavors you’ll savor down to the last delicious bite.

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Ingredients

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Protein Ingredients:

• 2 cups diced cooked ham
• 20 ounces (567 grams) dried Great Northern beans

Vegetable Ingredients:

• 1 medium sweet onion, diced
• 3 stalks celery, diced
• 2 carrots, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced

Liquid and Seasoning Ingredients:

• 8 cups (1.9 liters) water
• 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) olive oil
• 1 tablespoon (15 grams) salt
• 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
• 2 teaspoons ground pepper

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Instructions

1. Meticulously inspect dried Great Northern beans, removing any foreign particles or imperfections.
2. Finely chop onions, celery, and carrots into uniform pieces. Crush garlic cloves into fine fragments.
3. Warm olive oil in a robust Dutch oven over medium temperature. Sauté vegetable medley until they soften and become translucent, approximately 6 minutes. Introduce minced garlic, allowing aromatic notes to develop for an additional 90 seconds.
4. Incorporate water into the vegetable mixture. Add Italian seasoning and thoroughly rinsed beans, stirring to combine ingredients evenly.
5. Elevate heat to generate a rolling boil, then immediately reduce to a gentle simmer. Allow liquid to bubble slowly for 120 minutes, ensuring beans become tender and creamy.
6. Integrate diced ham, complementing with salt and ground pepper. Continue simmering for 45 minutes, enabling flavors to harmonize and intensify.
7. Evaluate soup’s viscosity, carefully adjusting with additional liquid if necessary. Taste critically and refine seasonings to achieve balanced flavor profile.
8. Transfer steaming soup into serving vessels. Present immediately, offering a nourishing and robust culinary experience.

Notes

• Swap dried beans for canned beans to reduce cooking time, ensuring they’re low-sodium and rinsed thoroughly.
• Soak beans overnight to minimize cooking duration and improve digestibility, making the soup easier on sensitive stomachs.
• Include smoked ham hock for deeper, richer flavor profile if traditional diced ham seems too mild.
• Create gluten-free version by verifying Italian seasoning blend contains no wheat-based additives and using certified gluten-free ingredients.

• Prep Time: 15-20 minutes
• Cook Time: 2 hours 35 minutes to 3 hours 7 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
• Method: Simmering
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 6
• Calories: 247 kcal
• Sugar: 2 g
• Sodium: 1343 mg
• Fat: 5 g
• Saturated Fat: 1.5 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 3.5 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 35 g
• Fiber: 9 g
• Protein: 18 g
• Cholesterol: 38 mg