Are you unsure about what to do with leftover holiday ham? Consider making a traditional ham and bean soup. The key to a delicious soup is the broth, which should be prepared first. To do this, start by making the ham stock, as it takes a few hours for the ham flavor to fully develop from the ham bone. If you have leftover ham from the holidays, you’ll need about 2 cups of cubed ham to add to the soup. Ham hocks can also be used as a substitute for a ham bone, providing rich flavor. For added texture and richness, you can include barley in the broth, although this is optional. Preparing the stock first ensures your soup will be flavorful and hearty, making the most of your holiday leftovers.

Ingredients

• 2 ham hocks or a ham bone
• Enough water to cover the ham bone or ham hocks
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 medium onion chopped
• 1 bag of dry navy, great northern, or cannellini beans, rinse well
• 1 cup of sliced celery
• 1 – 2 cups of chopped carrots
• 2 cups of cubed potatoes
• 2 cups of chopped ham
• 1/3 cup of barley (optional)
• 2 chopped or grated garlic cloves
• 1/2 cup chopped parsley
• ¼ tsp pepper
• ½ tsp nutmeg
• 1 tsp salt

Process

1. Place ham hocks or ham bone in a large soup pot and cover with cold water.
2. Add chopped onion, celery, 1 teaspoon of salt, bay leaves, and beans *see note below.
3. Bring to boil and reduce heat to simmer.
4. Skim any foam or froth from the top of the soup as it simmers and discard.
5. Simmer for about 1.5 – 2 hours until meat is tender and can be cut off the bone.
6. Remove meat from bones, discard the bones and cut meat into small pieces add to broth, add remaining two cups of chopped ham to the broth, remove bay leaves from the broth.
7. Add remaining ingredients, potatoes, barley, garlic, parsley, pepper, and nutmeg. Simmer for about 45 minutes or until carrots and potatoes are tender.
8. Serve with crusty bread and salad.

*My mom never pre-soaked her beans, I don’t presoak my beans either, I just add them to the water while the ham is cooking, they become soft and flavor the broth.

Tagged: bean, dinner, Entree, Food, ham, ham and bean soup, recipe, recipes, Soup