Ham and Bean Soup

Ham and Bean Soup

This is one of my favorite recipes.  It only has a few ingredients, costs very little to make, will feed a crowd, and is delicious!
There is nothing better on a chilly day than to have something bubbling away on the stove.
You can also substitute 1 bone-in ham steak for the cubed ham and ham bone.

Ham and Bean Soup 

Ingredients

11 cups of water, divided
1 pound dried navy beans (a 16 oz. bag, or about 2 ½ cups), rinsed
2 cups cubed ham
1 ham bone
½ cup chopped onion
½ cup diced carrot
Salt and pepper to taste

Directions

1.  Add beans and 4 cups of water to a large pot.  Bring to a rapid boil; boil for 2 minutes.  Remove from heat, cover and let stand for 1 hour.  Drain water and return beans to pot.

2.  Add 7 cups of water and remaining ingredients to beans.  Heat to boiling.  Reduce heat, cover and simmer for 1 ½ hours or until beans are tender.  (Add water during cooking if necessary).

3.  Remove ham bone; trim meat from bone and stir into soup.  To make soup thicker, remove 1/4 c of beans, mash, and stir back into soup.  Salt and pepper to taste.

Serve hot with crusty bread!


Makes 8- 1 ½ cup servings

Ham and Bean Soup