Ham 'n Bean Soup

4 servings Prep: 15 m Cook: 4 h 30 m Total: 4 h 45 m Beginner
5.0/5 (1)
Ham 'n Bean Soup
Classic ham and bean soup with onions and bell pepper simmered for hours until tender - a hearty, comforting bowl perfect for using up that leftover ham bone. Can also be served over rice with fried pork chops for a heartier meal.

Ingredients

4 servings
  • 2 onions, chopped
  • 1 bell pepper, diced
  • 1 small bag great northern beans (dried)
  • Ham bone or 1 lb chopped ham
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Step-by-Step Instructions

  1. Put all ingredients in a heavy soup pot with enough water to cover all ingredients.
  2. Boil on medium heat until beans are tender, usually 4 to 5 hours, checking the level of liquid as it cooks and adding more water if needed. Season to taste with salt and black pepper.

Common Problems and Solutions

Q: Do I need to soak the beans first?

A: This recipe doesn't call for soaking, but you can soak them overnight to reduce cooking time to 2-3 hours. Just drain and rinse before using.

Q: My beans are still hard after 4 hours - what's wrong?

A: Old beans take longer to soften. Keep simmering and add more water as needed. Beans can take 5-6 hours if they've been sitting in the pantry for a year or more.

Tips and Techniques

If using a ham bone, the meat will fall off during cooking - fish out the bone before serving and shred any remaining meat back into the soup.

Ingredient Substitutions

  • great northern beans: navy beans or pinto beans
  • ham bone: smoked turkey leg or neck bones

Equipment Needed

  • heavy soup pot or Dutch oven