There’s something so undeniably comforting about a warm bowl of soup, isn’t there? Especially when it’s an easy-to-make, soul-soothing ham and bean concoction that feels like a hug in a bowl. I remember a chilly autumn evening last year, just after binging a new Netflix series—this soup saved the day, and it might just become your new go-to comfort food as well.
Steps
- Begin by bringing eight cups of water to a boil in a large pot.
- Add dry great northern beans (or any white beans you have) to the boiling water.
- Incorporate chopped carrots, onion, and celery into the pot.
- Season the mixture with salt, fresh garlic, mustard powder, bay leaves, and ground white pepper.
- Add a ham hock and two cups of chopped ham to the soup.
- Let the soup simmer until the beans are tender and the flavors meld together.
- For a thicker consistency, consider stirring in a cornstarch slurry or puréeing a portion of the soup and returning it to the pot.
- Once cooked, serve the soup hot and enjoy.
Ingredients
- 8 cups of water
- Dry great northern beans (or any white beans)
- Carrots
- Onion
- Celery
- Salt
- Fresh garlic
- Mustard powder
- Bay leaves
- Ground white pepper
- 1 ham hock
- 2 cups of chopped ham
FAQ
- How can I thicken my ham and bean soup?
- To make the soup thicker, consider adding a cornstarch slurry. Alternatively, you can blend a portion of the soup and mix it back in for added thickness.
- What is the best way to store leftover ham and bean soup?
- Store any leftover soup in a shallow, airtight container and keep it in the refrigerator for up to five days. You can reheat it either in the microwave or on the stovetop.
- Is it possible to freeze ham and bean soup?
- Yes, ham and bean soup can be frozen. Transfer it to zip-top bags, remove the excess air, seal tightly, and wrap in foil. Freeze the bags flat for up to three months.
- Can I use different beans if I don’t have great northern beans?
- Absolutely, if you can’t find dry great northern beans, feel free to use any type of white bean you have available.
- Are there any additional ingredients I can add to the soup?
- Certainly, you can enhance the soup by adding ingredients like celery and Yukon gold potatoes to make it more filling and to serve more people.
Tips
- If you prefer a thicker consistency for your soup, consider blending a portion of it and then mixing it back in, or try adding a cornstarch slurry for added thickness.
- To enhance the flavor and make the soup more filling, consider adding extra vegetables like Yukon gold potatoes and celery.
- When storing leftovers, keep the soup in a shallow, airtight container in the fridge for up to five days. This will help maintain its freshness and flavor.
- For long-term storage, freeze the soup by ladling it into zip-top bags, removing excess air, and sealing them tightly. Wrap the bags in foil and lay them flat in the freezer for up to three months.
Equipment
- Large Stock Pot or Dutch Oven – Essential for cooking the soup.
- Blender – Useful if you want to purée some of the soup to thicken it, as suggested by a community tip.
- Airtight Containers – For storing leftovers in the refrigerator.
- Zip-Top Freezer Bags – For freezing portions of the soup.
