Thick Ham And Bean Soup Recipes

HAM AND BEAN SOUP

Steps:

• Heat a Dutch oven (you can also use a thick-bottomed soup pot, but may need to stir more often to prevent burning) over medium heat for about 3 minutes or so, until it's nice and hot. Add the oil and the onions. Cook until the onions begin to turn translucent. Add the garlic and cook for 1-2 minutes.
• Stir in the chopped celery and carrots, and cook for an additional 5-6 minutes. Add the beans, followed by the water. Increase the heat to high.
• Add the bay leaves, dried thyme, garlic powder, onion powder, white pepper, black pepper, paprika, and chicken bouillon paste. (If you don't have chicken bouillon paste, simply use chicken stock in place of the water.) Bring to a boil.
• Stir in the ham. I like to cut it into big shards/shreds for extra texture. (Sarah likes hers cubed and orderly though. I won't judge either way!) If you're using a ham hock instead of ham, you can add it in now.
• Reduce the heat to medium-low so the soup is at a somewhat energetic simmer--it should always be at a low bubble. Cook for 4-5 hours, stirring periodically. If the soup isn't cooking down, you may want to increase the heat to medium. Every stove is different, so don't just set it and forget it. Periodically check liquid levels.
• In the last hour of cooking, add the fresh parsley, and cook for another hour. It's done when the beans and carrots are tender, and the soup is thickened. If you used a ham hock, fish out any bones, and chop up any large pieces of meat and skin (keeping the skin is optional) that don't break down during the cooking process before serving.
• This soup is quite forgiving. If it ends up too salty for your tastes, just add water, and lightly mash some of the beans to release their starchiness and re-thicken the soup. If you are reheating the soup and there is not enough liquid, just add 1-2 cups of water to bring it back to your desired consistency.

CREAMY HAM AND BEANS

Steps:

• Add beans to boiling water and cook on high. Beans will soak up some water, so you will need to add more water later.
• As soon as beans can be mashed with fork, add ham and onions, let cook until beans and ham are done.
• Turn down to medium heat and add soup and cheese. Stir frequently while soup and cheese are mixed into the beans. When cheese is melted turn off heat and serve. Leftovers may be frozen.

HAM BONE AND BEAN SOUP

Steps:

• Place bean mix into a large bowl and cover with several inches of water; soak for at least 24 hours. Drain completely.
• Bring chicken stock to a boil in a pot large enough to hold the beans and, eventually, the ham bone. Add the soaked beans; reduce heat and simmer until tender, about 1 hour.
• Bring stock and beans back to a boil. Add ham bone, onion, carrots, celery, garlic, and bay leaves. Reduce heat to low and simmer until vegetables are soft, about 1 hour. Add chopped ham, liquid smoke, and mustard powder. Stir and let simmer until flavors blend, about 30 minutes more.
• Remove ham bone from the soup. Season with salt and pepper.

HEARTY BEAN SOUP WITH HAM

Steps:

• In a small skillet, saute onion and green pepper in butter for 3 minutes. Add the garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Transfer to a Dutch oven or soup kettle. Stir in the remaining ingredients. Cover and cook over medium-low heat for 20 minutes or until heated through, stirring occasionally.

THICK HAM AND BEAN SOUP

Steps:

• Either soak beans over night or quick soak by covering beans with 2 inches of water, bringing to a boil for 2 minutes and letting set for 1 hour.
• Drain and rinse beans, add all ingredients, except for the potatoes.
• Bring to a boil and simmer for 1 1/2 hours.
• Remove ham bone and pick off meat, give ham bones to dog.
• Return ham to soup along with potatoes.
• Cook for 1/2 hour more or until potatoes are tender.
• Take a potato masher and mash the potatoes and some of the beans, this makes a wonderfully thick soup.
• Serve with either crackers or corn muffins. Enjoy!
• Oh yea, salt and pepper to taste!