Old-Fashioned Ham and Bean Soup Recipe
A hearty and comforting Old-Fashioned Ham and Bean Soup featuring tender Great Northern beans simmered with a flavorful ham hock, aromatic vegetables, and spices. Perfect for a cozy meal that warms you up from the inside out.
- Prep Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Total Time: 2 hours 45 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Beans and Broth
- 1 pound dry Great Northern beans
- 8 cups water
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Soup Add-ins
- 1 ham hock
- 1 cup chopped carrots
- 1/2 stalk celery, chopped
- 1 cup chopped onion
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon mustard powder
- 2 bay leaves
- 2 cups chopped ham
- 1/2 teaspoon ground white pepper
Instructions
- Rinse the Beans: Rinse the Great Northern beans thoroughly and discard any broken or discolored beans to ensure a clean, even-cooked soup.
- Soak the Beans: Bring 8 cups of water to a boil, seasoning with 1/2 teaspoon salt. Remove from heat and add the beans, allowing them to soak in the hot water for at least 1 hour so they soften before cooking.
- Combine Ingredients and Boil: After soaking, place the pot back on high heat. Add the ham hock, chopped carrots, celery, onion, minced garlic, mustard powder, and bay leaves to the pot. Stir well and bring the mixture to a full boil.
- Simmer the Soup: Reduce the heat to low and let the soup simmer gently for 1 hour, allowing the flavors to develop deeply and the beans to cook through.
- Add Chopped Ham: Remove the ham hock from the soup, discard any bones and tough parts, then stir in the chopped ham pieces for added texture and flavor.
- Final Simmer and Season: Continue to simmer the soup for another 30 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking. Finish by seasoning with ground white pepper to taste. Serve the soup hot and enjoy this classic dish.
Notes
- Soaking the beans beforehand reduces cooking time and helps improve digestibility.
- Use a ham hock or smoked ham bone for the best smoky, savory flavor.
- Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper after the finishing simmer, as the ham can be quite salty.
- This soup freezes well, making it perfect for batch cooking and leftovers.
- For a thicker texture, mash some beans against the side of the pot during the last 10 minutes of cooking.
Keywords: ham and bean soup, Great Northern beans, ham hock soup, old fashioned soup, comfort food, winter soup
