Tasty and Hearty Bean and Ham Soup
Discover the simplicity of this budget-friendly bean and ham soup recipe. This meal is a game changer that requires minimal effort on your part.
You only need five ingredients, which probably are already in your pantry. This bean soup is super meaty and loaded with flavor.
For more soup recipes, you can check out my blog. You will especially like my hearty Dominican Shrimp And Rice Soup or this Mexican Meatball Soup.
What Is A Ham Bone?
A ham bone is a cut from the pork leg’s bottom section. It consists of bone, connective tissue, fat, and some meat. This naturally makes it an extremely rich cut better suited for dishes like stews and soups rather than roasts.
The ham bone cut needs to cook for a long time. That’s because the connective tissue is tough and takes a while to soften completely.
While many people don’t enjoy the process of slow-cooking meats, there are many benefits in doing so, especially in this recipe.
First, it helps tenderize the ham hock. Secondly, it creates a more complex and rich flavor profile. And finally, it allows you to create an incredibly hearty ham and bean soup with minimal effort.
Most of the time spent creating this beauty is hands-free. The work you will be doing adds up to about 10 minutes!
Can You Use Leftover Ham Bone For This Soup Recipe?
Believe it or not, I initially developed this recipe using a leftover ham bone. It makes the cooking time shorter and saves you a ton of money. You only have to dig out $5 for the bean mix and some seasonings (which you likely already have on hand).
You can remove the initial boiling time if your leftover ham hock is already cooked. However, if it is still raw, you must boil it for at least 1 hour.
This is a great option for leftover holiday ham that you can toss into any bean soup. You will enjoy a hearty ham and bean soup the following day without any hassles.
Ham and Bean Soup Ingredients
Aside from the ham bone, you’ll need just a few more ingredients to complete this dish:
- HamBeens 15-Bean Soup Mix: A 20 oz bag from any brand, though Hurt’s is a popular choice for its variety and flavor.
- Garlic: Powder, cloves, or granules work well for adding depth.
- Salt & Pepper: Essential seasonings you likely have on hand, perfect for enhancing the soup’s taste.
Check out more bean recipes: Habichuelas Con Dulce or Easy Gbegiri Soup Recipe With Brown Beans.
Preparing Hurt’s HamBeens 15-Bean Soup Mix
To prepare this mix, sort through the variety of beans for any bad ones. Rinse beans and begin to soak beans overnight. This will allow the beans to soften up and cook easier in the ham and bean soup.
If you forget to soak your beans overnight, no worries. The other option is to boil your beans for an hour before tossing them with your ham bone.
Alternative Ways to Make Ham and Bean Soup
An alternative way to cook ham bone or any leftover ham bone is with a crock pot. This is convenient, especially when you have other prior engagements to attend to.
You can leave the ham bone in the crock pot and not worry about it until needed. I recommend using chicken broth to add some depth to the flavor if you have any available ham bone stock.
As for beans, you can toss dried beans with your slow cooker ham, or you can opt for canned beans. The flavors of the ham bone combined with dried beans or canned beans will still produce a delicious bean soup.
How To Freeze Your Bean And Ham Soup
Preserve the comforting flavors of homemade ham and bean soup with these simple freezing steps:
- Cool the Soup: After cooking, let your ham and bean soup cool to room temperature, speeding up the process by pouring it into a flat tray for quick cooling in a well-ventilated spot, away from direct sunlight.
- Prepare for Freezing: Transfer the cooled soup into a freezer-safe Ziploc bag or an airtight container, removing as much air as possible before sealing.
- Protect Against Freezer Burn: Wrap the sealed bag or container in aluminum foil for extra protection.
- Freeze: Store your soup in the freezer for up to 6 months, though using it sooner is always better for taste.
How To Thaw Your Ham Bone Soup
Remove it from the freezer when you are ready to eat your ham and bean soup.
It is best to thaw the soup in the fridge overnight. However, if you are in a hurry, you can place the entire mixture in a pot and heat it over low heat. You may need to add a little bit of water to help prevent the pot from scorching.
If you want to discover other soup recipes, have a look at this Potato Soup or this Dominican Asopao De Camarones Recipe (Shrimp And Rice Soup).
FAQs
If you have any leftover soup, you can store it in an airtight container in the fridge for 5-6 days. It’s always best to eat the soup as soon as possible or freeze any leftovers.
Budget-Friendly Bean And Ham Soup
Ingredients
- 1 meaty ham bone
- 1 (20 ounce) bag 15 bean soup mix + flavoring packet from package
- 8 cups water
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp fine salt
- 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- To start, combine the ham bone and water in a large stock pot. The water should cover the ham. Place a lid on the pot, set the heat to medium-high, and leave the ham to boil for 1 hour.
- Once the ham is cooked, add the bean mix and the seasoning packet. You can also add garlic powder, fine salt, and black pepper. Give the ingredients a good stir to ensure all the flavors are evenly distributed.
- Cover the pot again and leave the ingredients to cook over low heat for 30 minutes or so.
- After 30 minutes, remove the ham bone from the pot. Cut off all of the meat and place it back into the soup mixture.
- Cover the pot again and leave the ham and bean soup to simmer over medium heat for another hour.
- When the beans are cooked, remove the soup from the heat.
- You can serve your soup with crackers or crusty bread.
