Ham Bone Soup
- Level: Easy
- Yield: about 3 quarts; 6 to 8 servings
-
- Nutritional Analysis
- Per Serving
- Serving Size
- 1 of 8 servings
- Calories
- 307
- Total Fat
- 7
- Saturated Fat
- 1
- Carbohydrates
- 46
- Dietary Fiber
- 13
- Sugar
- 5
- Protein
- 16
- Cholesterol
- 6
- Sodium
- 532
- Total: 9 hr 40 min (includes soaking time)
- Active: 25 min
Ingredients
1 pound dried navy beans
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
4 medium carrots, chopped (about 2 cups)
3 stalks celery, chopped (about 1 cup)
3 leeks, white and light green parts only, halved lengthwise, thinly sliced and washed well (about 1 1/2 cups)
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves, chopped
2 bay leaves
1 leftover ham bone
1 head escarole, coarsely chopped (about 6 cups)
Directions
- The day before you want to make the soup. put the beans in a large bowl and add cold water to cover by several inches. Soak overnight (or at least 8 hours) in the refrigerator.
- Drain the beans and rinse. Heat the olive oil in a large Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the carrots, celery and leeks and season with 1 teaspoon of salt. Cook and stir until the vegetables are softened, about 5 minutes.
- Add the tomato paste and thyme and stir to coat the vegetables. Let the tomato paste toast for 1 minute, stirring, then add the bay leaves and 12 cups of water. Add the beans and nestle the ham bone in. Bring to a simmer and cook, uncovered, until the beans are almost tender, 45 minutes to 1 hour.
- Add the escarole, another 2 cups of water and 1 teaspoon salt. Return the soup to a simmer and cook until thickened and the beans and escarole are very tender, 20 to 30 minutes.
- Remove the bay leaves and ham bone from the soup and let cool until you can handle the bone. Shred any useable meat left on the bone and stir back into the soup. Season with salt and pepper before serving.
Cook’s Note
To make ahead, allow the soup to cool completely before transferring to airtight storage containers and refrigerating up to 1 week or freezing up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator, then reheat over medium heat or in the microwave, adding a little water if it seems too thick.