📝 Description
A thick, hearty, and comforting soup made with tender beans, smoky ham, and slow-simmered vegetables in a rich savory broth. It’s the perfect cozy meal for cold days—simple, filling, and full of homemade flavor.
🛒 Ingredients
🥓 Main
2 cups cooked ham (diced)
2 cups dried white beans (navy or great northern)
(or 3 cans beans, drained & rinsed for quicker version)
🥕 Vegetables
1 onion (chopped) 🧅
2 carrots (diced) 🥕
2 celery stalks (diced)
🧄 Flavor Base
3 cloves garlic (minced) 🧄
6 cups chicken broth 🍲
1 bay leaf
1 tsp thyme 🌿
1/2 tsp black pepper
Salt to taste
🌿 Optional
Parsley for garnish
Splash of hot sauce 🌶️
👨🍳 Step-by-Step Instructions
1️⃣ Prep Beans
If using dried beans: soak overnight, then drain.
If using canned beans: skip this step.
2️⃣ Sauté Vegetables
In a large pot, sauté onion, carrot, celery.
Cook until softened (5–7 minutes).
Add garlic and cook 1 more minute.
3️⃣ Build Soup
Add ham, beans, broth, bay leaf, thyme, pepper.
Stir well and bring to a boil.
4️⃣ Simmer
Reduce heat and simmer:
Dried beans: 1.5–2 hours
Canned beans: 30–40 minutes
Stir occasionally until thick and creamy.
5️⃣ Finish
Remove bay leaf
Adjust salt & pepper
Garnish with parsley 🌿
⏱ Prep & Cook Time
Prep: 10–15 minutes
Cook: 40 minutes–2 hours
Total: up to 2 hours
🔥 Nutrition (Approx per serving)
Calories: 380 kcal
Protein: 28g 💪
Carbs: 40g
Fat: 10g
