Description
Hearty ham and white bean soup celebrates rustic Italian comfort, blending smoky pork and creamy legumes into a soul-warming masterpiece. Nonna’s kitchen wisdom shines through each spoonful, inviting warmth and satisfaction to your winter table.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 2 cups (about 300 g) cooked ham, diced
Vegetables and Aromatics:
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 2 carrots, peeled and diced
- 2 celery stalks, diced
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
Liquids and Beans:
- 4 cups (1 liter) chicken or vegetable broth
- 2 cups (480 ml) water
- 3 cans (15 oz / 425 g each) white beans (such as cannellini or great northern), drained and rinsed
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Herbs and Seasonings:
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
Optional Garnish:
- Fresh parsley, chopped
- Crusty bread or crackers for serving
Instructions
- Warm olive oil in a spacious cooking vessel over medium temperature, then gently sauté the diced onions, carrots, and celery until they become tender and translucent, releasing their aromatic essence.
- Introduce minced garlic, dried thyme, and rosemary to the vegetable medley, allowing the herbs to bloom and intensify their fragrance for approximately one to two minutes.
- Cascade the chicken broth into the pot, followed by thoroughly rinsed white beans, creating a harmonious liquid base that will serve as the soup’s foundation.
- Incorporate the diced ham into the bubbling mixture, allowing the protein to infuse its smoky richness throughout the liquid while simmering on low heat for 20-25 minutes.
- Season the soup with salt and freshly ground black pepper, adjusting the flavors to create a balanced and comforting profile.
- Carefully portion the steaming soup into serving bowls, then elegantly garnish with freshly chopped parsley or delicate thyme leaves, adding a vibrant finishing touch to this hearty and warming dish.
Notes
- Boost vegetable flavor by caramelizing onions slightly longer for deeper, richer taste profile.
- Swap chicken broth with vegetable broth to create a vegetarian-friendly version of the soup.
- Reduce sodium by using low-sodium ham and choosing low-sodium chicken broth for health-conscious diners.
- Enhance protein content by adding extra beans or diced chicken as an alternative to ham for flexible meal options.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6 to 8
- Calories: 120
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 4 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 15 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 8 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg