Name: Ham and Beans Recipe
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 90 min
Ingredients: 1 ham bone; 2 cups diced ham; 1 pound dry white beans; 2 tablespoons butter; 1/2 cup diced onion; 2 large carrots (peeled and cut into 3/4 inch pieces); 3 stalks celery (thickly sliced); 1 tablespoon minced garlic; 2 sprigs fresh rosemary; 1 tablespoon sugar; 1 bay leaf; 8 cups water; salt and pepper (to taste); 2 tablespoons parsley (chopped)

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Inexpensive and hearty, ham and beans is the perfect way to use up your leftover ham! On a cool evening, this savory recipe will warm your family and have them asking for more.

This conventional comfort food pairs well with a side of cornbread or warm dinner rolls. Using dried beans, fresh vegetables and leftover ham, corn and beans lends itself to variations and is simple to prepare.

Table of Contents

Ingredients You’ll Need

ham bone
diced ham
dry white beans
butter
onion
carrots
celery
minced garlic
fresh rosemary
sugar
leaf
water
salt and pepper
parsley

How to Make Ham and Beans

Using a large bowl, cover dried beans with cold water. Soak for 8 hours or overnight.
Place the butter in a large pot and melt slowly over medium heat. Add the onion, carrots and celery. Cook for 5-6 minutes or until softened.
Add the garlic and continue cooking for 30 seconds.
Drain the soaked beans and add them to the pot.
Place the ham bone into the pot. Add thyme, rosemary, brown sugar and bay.
Add the water and bring to a simmer.
Cook for 60-90 minutes or until beans are tender.
Discard the bay leaf and any large sprigs of thyme.
Remove and discard the ham bone. Stir in the diced ham. For a ham hock, remove the hock (bone) from the pot and cut all the meat off.Return the diced meat to the pot.
Continue to cook for 10-15 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to desired taste.
Sprinkle with parsley, and serve.

Tips and Tricks

Using leftover ham bone or a ham hock will make this meal a breeze to prepare. Be sure to dice the ham from the bone and add it to the pot during the cooking process.
Larger chunks of carrots and celery stand up better for recipes with long cooking times.
A slow cooker is a wonderful option for making a one-pot meal. Combine the ham bone with soaked or canned beans, water, herbs and spices in your slow cooker or crockpot. After 8 hours of low heat cooking, add diced ham and continue to cook for another 10 minutes. Add salt, pepper and parsley to season the dish. Any unique seasoning packets that come with the beans can be added at this time.

Variations

Create a personalized meal by adding extra ingredients to enrich the flavor.

Meat: Smoked sausage, bacon, or other favorite meats can be included as a punch of unexpected flavor.
Vegetables: Experiment with additional vegetables, like canned tomatoes, leeks or diced peppers.
Beans: Typically ham and beans is made with white beans but can easily be substituted for your favorites, such as lima beans, pinto beans,kidney beans or a combination.

Do You Have To Soak Beans?

Dried beans require an extended amount of time to moisten. While the long cooking time of this dish may be enough, pre-soaked beans will be more tender and delicious. Skipping the soaking process means the cooking time will likely be longer to fully cook the beans, causing the other vegetables to overcook. Where time allows, soaking the beans first is recommended.

How Do You Thicken Your Ham And Beans?

Occasionally the beans do not absorb as much water as expected. To ensure your dish is both thick and hearty, stir in some breadcrumbs, cream or pureed potatoes . Sprinkling in a vegetable-based starch, like cornstarch will quickly thicken the dish while maintaining the original flavor.

Can I Use Pinto Beans In Ham And Beans?

Canned pinto beans are a very convenient time-saving option for this recipe. For an equally hearty and tasty meal, beans in a can are a great alternative to dried beans!

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