White Bean and Ham Bone Soup

What to do with that leftover Easter ham bone? Try this tasty soup that is created from a ham stock, to use now, or later. Use your favorite dried white beans. My choice is Great Northern.

Step: 1

Combine ham bone and 4 quarts of water in a large stock pot of Dutch oven at least the night before. Bring to a boil, cover, reduce heat and simmer for 10 to 12 hours.

Step: 2

In the meantime, place beans in a large pot with water to cover; soak overnight. Drain beans the next day and return to the pot.

Step: 3

Remove ham bone from the pot and pick off any edible meat. Strain the stock and measure out 3 quarts for the soup. Remaining stock can be frozen.

Step: 4

Pour 3 quarts of stock over the soaked beans. Add ham, celery, carrots, onion, and garlic. Season with salt and pepper. Bring soup to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer. Cover, tilting the lid to allow steam to escape, and simmer until beans are tender, 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Add sherry in the last 30 minutes of cooking and season with salt and pepper.

Step: 5

Ladle soup into bowls and sprinkle with fresh parsley.

Per Serving: 241 calories; protein 15.4g; carbohydrates 32.6g; fat 5.6g; cholesterol 15.1mg; sodium 435.8mg.

The word “stew” can refer to both a dish and a cooking method. Stewing makes slowly cooking piece of meat, vegetables or beans in a tastefull liquid . It’s same as to braising, but it makes have a few piece of differences. The meat is chopped into few of pieces but of being cooked whole , and the liquid all of it covers the contents in a stew as compared to a braise’s halfway all of it . When meat or raw fruit are cooked using this method, the resulting dish is called stew.

Stew has a perception for being a rib-sticking meal that warms you up on a freezing , winter day. It’s true ; a bowl of classic beef stew does have warming properties , but stew’s comfort factor goes way beyond protecting you from the chill . It’s all about those tender chunks of meat and vegetables, swimming in a thick, ultra-rich gravy. The way they come together make the ultimate comfort food, no matter the weather.