Servings: 6-8
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour (or longer for deeper flavor)
Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 2 carrots, peeled and diced
- 2 celery stalks, diced
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 ham bone (or 2 cups diced cooked ham)
- 6 cups (1.5 liters) chicken or vegetable broth
- 3 cans (15 oz/425g each) white beans (cannellini or great northern), rinsed and drained
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 2 bay leaves
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Optional: 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes for a bit of heat
- Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Sauté the Veggies:
- Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat.
- Add the onion, carrots, and celery. Cook for about 5 minutes until softened.
- Stir in the garlic and cook for 1 minute, just until fragrant.
- Build the Soup Base:
- Place the ham bone or diced ham in the pot.
- Add the broth, white beans, thyme, paprika, bay leaves, and red pepper flakes (if using).
- Simmer:
- Bring the soup to a boil, then reduce the heat to low. Cover and simmer for 45 minutes to 1 hour, stirring occasionally. If using a ham bone, this will allow the flavors to develop beautifully.
- Shred the Ham:
- If you used a ham bone, remove it from the pot and shred any remaining meat off the bone. Return the meat to the soup.
- Season and Serve:
- Taste the soup and season with salt and pepper as needed. (Go easy on the salt at first; ham can be quite salty.)
- Ladle into bowls and garnish with fresh parsley.
Do’s and Don’ts
DO:
- Let the soup simmer longer if you have the time; the flavors get better the longer it cooks.
- Use canned beans for convenience, but rinse them well to reduce sodium.
DON’T:
- Throw out the ham bone! It’s the key to deep, smoky flavor.
- Skip the veggies—they balance the soup and add nutrition.
Pro Tips:
- For a creamier texture, mash some of the beans with a fork or blend a small portion of the soup, then stir it back in.
- Leftovers taste even better the next day, so this is a great make-ahead meal.
This Ham and White Bean Soup is a warm, comforting hug in a bowl. Perfect for using up leftover holiday ham or just satisfying a craving for a hearty, smoky soup. Serve it with crusty bread for the ultimate cozy meal. 🥣🍞✨
