Ham and Bean Soup

There’s nothing quite like a warm and hearty bowl of soup to nourish the body and soul, and this recipe for Ham and Bean Soup is a perfect example of comfort food at its best. Made with simple ingredients that are easy to find at your local grocery store, this soup is a delicious and nutritious way to use up leftover ham and create a satisfying meal that’s perfect for any time of day. Whether you’re cooking for one or sharing a meal with family and friends, this recipe is sure to please.

Ingredients

• 8 cups water
• 4 15.5 oz. cans of white beans, drained
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 cup chopped carrots
• 1 cup chopped onion
• 1 stalk celery, chopped
• 2 teaspoons minced garlic
• 1 teaspoon mustard powder
• ½ tsp paprika
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 ham hock
• 2 cups chopped ham
• ½ teaspoon ground white pepper, or to taste
• 1 tbsp olive oil

Directions

1. In a large soup pot, saute onions, carrots, and celery in olive oil until they start to soften. Add garlic and saute for another minute.
2. Add water, beans, garlic, mustard, paprika, and bay leaves to the pot; stir well. Add ham hock and bring to a boil; reduce heat to low and simmer for 1 hour.
3. Remove ham hock and discard. Stir in chopped ham and simmer for 30 minutes. Season with ground white pepper to taste.

Substitutions

• Different varieties of beans could work well here.