Description
Alton Brown’s hearty ham and bean soup blends rustic Southern comfort with culinary precision. Rich smoky flavors mingle with tender white beans, creating a satisfying meal perfect for warming chilly evenings.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 pound dry great northern beans, sorted and rinsed
- 2 cups chopped ham
- 1 ham hock
- 8 cups water
Vegetables and Aromatics:
- 1 cup chopped onion
- 1 cup chopped carrots
- 0.5 stalk celery, chopped
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
Spices and Seasonings:
- 0.5 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon mustard powder
- 0.5 teaspoon ground white pepper, or to taste
- 2 bay leaves
Instructions
- Fill a spacious stockpot with water and dried navy beans, then rapidly heat to a rolling boil.
- Remove pot from heat source, sprinkle in kosher salt, seal with a tight-fitting lid, and allow beans to steep and soften for precisely 60 minutes.
- Finely dice fresh carrots, crisp celery stalks, sweet onions, and aromatic garlic; gently fold these vegetables into the bean mixture along with fragrant Dijon mustard and two whole bay leaves, stirring to distribute evenly.
- Submerge the smoky ham hock into the bubbling liquid, cooking until meat becomes fork-tender, approximately 45-50 minutes.
- Carefully extract the ham hock, discarding the bone and excess fat, then shred any remaining succulent meat.
- Return shredded ham pieces to the pot, reducing heat to a gentle simmer and allowing flavors to meld for an additional 25-30 minutes.
- Taste and refine the seasoning by adding a delicate pinch of ground white pepper, ensuring a balanced and nuanced flavor profile.
Notes
- Perfectly timed soaking softens beans, reducing cooking duration and digestive discomfort.
- Rich ham hock transforms broth with smoky, savory undertones that elevate the entire dish.
- Gentle simmering allows ingredients to meld, releasing complex flavors and creating a harmonious texture.
- Subtle white pepper adds a delicate warmth without overwhelming the soup’s natural characteristics.
- Endless variations welcome personal creativity, from adding kale to experimenting with different herbs.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 300 mg
- Fat: 4 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 24 g
- Fiber: 6 g
- Protein: 10 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg