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Hearty 15 Bean Soup with Smoked Ham

A close-up of a steaming white bowl filled with hearty bean soup, topped with chunks of ham and diced carrots.
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Make this hearty 15 bean soup with smoked ham for a comforting, filling meal. This recipe uses a mixed bean blend and ham hock or leftover ham for deep flavor, perfect for a simple weeknight dinner or meal prep.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound dried 15 bean soup mix (ensure it contains navy beans)
  • 1 smoked ham hock or 1 cup diced smoked ham
  • 8 cups water or low-sodium chicken broth
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 large yellow onion, chopped
  • 2 carrots, diced
  • 2 celery stalks, diced
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 teaspoon salt (adjust based on ham saltiness)
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar

Instructions

  1. Rinse the dried 15 bean soup mix under cold water. If your mix does not include them, soak the beans overnight, then drain and rinse before proceeding. Discard any small stones or damaged beans.
  2. In a large stockpot or Dutch oven, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the chopped onion, carrots, and celery. Cook until the vegetables soften, about 5 to 7 minutes.
  3. Add the minced garlic, thyme, and rosemary to the pot. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
  4. Add the rinsed bean mix, ham hock (or diced ham), water or broth, bay leaf, salt, and pepper to the pot.
  5. Bring the mixture to a boil, then immediately reduce the heat to low, cover the pot, and simmer for 2 to 3 hours, or until the beans are completely tender. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking. If using a ham hock, remove it when the beans are tender, shred the meat, discard the bone and skin, and return the meat to the soup.
  6. Stir in the apple cider vinegar during the last 10 minutes of cooking. This brightens the flavor.
  7. Taste the soup and adjust salt and pepper as needed. Remove the bay leaf before serving.
  8. Serve this classic comfort food soup hot. This soup is excellent for meal prep.

Notes

  • For a vegetarian option, omit the ham and use vegetable broth. Add 1 teaspoon of smoked paprika for depth of flavor.
  • If you prefer a thicker bean soup, remove about 2 cups of the soup near the end of cooking, blend until smooth, and stir the puree back into the pot.
  • This recipe freezes well for future easy bean soup dinners.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://cookingbyfelix.com/hearty-15-bean-soup-bean-soup/