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Hearty Ham and Bean Soup from a Leftover Ham Bone

A close-up of a hearty bowl of Ham and bean soup, featuring chunks of ham and carrots, served on a wooden table.
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Make a soul-satisfying ham and bean soup using your leftover ham bone. This navy bean stew is a classic post-holiday soup recipe, turning simple ingredients into a comforting meal.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 large leftover ham bone
  • 1 pound dried navy beans or Great Northern beans, rinsed
  • 8 cups water or low-sodium chicken broth
  • 1 large yellow onion, chopped
  • 2 carrots, chopped
  • 2 celery stalks, chopped
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 cup diced leftover ham (optional, for extra flavor)

Instructions

  1. If you have time, soak the dried beans overnight in water; drain them before starting. If not, proceed directly.
  2. Place the ham bone, rinsed beans, water or broth, onion, carrots, celery, bay leaves, thyme, and pepper into a large stockpot or Dutch oven.
  3. Bring the mixture to a boil over high heat.
  4. Reduce the heat to low, cover the pot partially, and let the soup simmer gently for 2 to 3 hours, or until the beans are completely tender. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking.
  5. Remove the ham bone from the pot. Once cool enough to handle, pull off any remaining meat from the bone and shred or chop it. Discard the bone.
  6. Return the shredded ham meat to the soup. If the soup is too thin, remove about 1 cup of beans and mash them, then stir the mash back into the pot to thicken the broth.
  7. Simmer for another 15 minutes uncovered to allow flavors to meld. Remove the bay leaves before serving.
  8. Serve your ham and bean soup hot, perhaps with cornbread on the side.

Notes

  • Soaking the beans overnight reduces the cooking time significantly.
  • For a smokier flavor, use a smoked ham hock instead of a bone if you do not have a leftover ham bone.
  • Taste the soup before adding salt, as the ham bone often provides enough sodium.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://pureplatepath.com/ham-and-bean-soup-leftover-ham-bone/