Leftover holiday ham transforms easily into a delicious soup!
Crock Pot Ham and Bean Soup
Warm your belly with this hearty soup. Perfect for using up leftover holiday ham.
Ingredients
- 1 cup dry beans - soaked overnight try Northern beans or cannelini beans
- 2 medium carrots, diced
- 1 celeriac root, peeled and diced
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 1&1/2 cups chopped ham
- 1 quart chicken or vegetable broth
- 1&1/2 tbsp parsley flakes
- 1/2 tsp ground thyme
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Once the beans are done soaking overnight, drain and discard the water.
- Rinse the beans under fresh water (the soaking and rinsing is necessary to remove the phytic acid which is what gives you gas!)
- Place beans in the crock pot and add water until beans are covered by about 2 inches. Cook for 2-4 hours on high, checking periodically to see if they are done (time will vary depending on the variety and how old your beans are). You should be able to smash a bean against the side of the pot with a fork. The beans will soak up most of the water.
- Add broth, carrots, celery, onion, parsley and thyme to the Crock Pot and cook another 4 hours on low until the vegetables are tender.
- Stir in cooked ham at the end and continue cooking only until heated through. Salt and pepper to taste. Serve warm.
Notes
Alternative instructions using homemade broth:
A few years ago I started making this soup after a holiday using the leftover ham and bone so I can make my own broth, so I don't always use the crock pot. Place ham bone in a large stock pot full of water. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 2 hours or up to 24 hours if you really want good bone broth. Remove the bone and strain broth as needed. Add presoaked beans and cook for 2-3 hours to desired doneness. Plan on the beans soaking up about half of your liquid. You may need to add up to 4 cups more water after beans are cooked as they soak up the broth. Add vegetables and spices and cook 1-2 additional hours. Add cooked chopped ham at the end and season with salt and pepper to taste.
