Hearty Ham and Navy Bean Delight
This Hearty Ham and Navy Bean Delight is a quintessential comfort food, combining the rich flavors of savory ham with tender navy beans in a wholesome soup. Cooked slowly in a crock pot, this recipe transforms simple ingredients into a flavorful masterpiece. It’s perfect for chilly days, family gatherings, or meal prepping, and while it does take some time to prepare, the delicious aroma that fills your kitchen will entice everyone to gather around the table. Each serving is packed with nutrients, making it a satisfying, low-carb choice that the whole family will love.
N/A
Servings
N/A
Calories
12
Ingredients
Ingredients
Celery
2 cups (finely diced)
Carrots
2 cups (finely diced)
Onions
2 cups (finely diced)
Red Bell Pepper
1-1.5 cups (finely diced)
Yellow Bell Pepper
1-1.5 cups (finely diced)
Diced Ham
4 cups (finely diced (black forest ham recommended))
Tomato Juice or V8 Juice
2 cups (none)
Water
6 cups (none)
Salt
2 teaspoons (none)
Pepper
2 teaspoons (none)
Garlic Powder
1 teaspoon (none)
Bay Leaves
2 (none)
Instructions
1
The Day Before: Rinse the navy beans in cold water and soak them in a large pot with 6 cups of water. Bring to a boil, then simmer for 2 minutes. Remove from heat, cover, and let sit until ready to assemble the soup.
2
Prepare the vegetables: Finely dice the celery, carrots, onions, and bell peppers. Aim for approximately 2 cups each of celery, carrots, and onions, with 1.5-2 cups total of the diced bell peppers.
3
Dice the ham: Use about 4 cups of diced black forest ham for a rich flavor.
4
Store all the diced ingredients in a sealed container and refrigerate until you are ready to assemble the soup.
5
The Night Before: Drain the navy beans and transfer them to the crock pot. Then add the prepared vegetables and ham.
6
Season the mixture with salt, pepper, and garlic powder before adding the bay leaves.
7
Pour in the tomato or V8 juice, followed by 6 cups of water. Stir well to combine all ingredients.
8
Set the crock pot to LOW, cover, and let cook overnight.
9
The Day of Serving: Check the soup after about 15 hours on LOW for bean softness.
10
If necessary, switch to HIGH if the beans need more time to soften.
11
About 1-3 hours before serving, use a potato masher to mash a small portion of the beans against the bottom of the crock pot for a thicker texture.
12
If the soup appears watery, allow it to sit with the heat on and skim off excess liquid using a measuring cup.
13
Serve the soup warm, offering guests salt and pepper to taste, as well as optional Tabasco sauce for an extra kick.
14
Store any leftovers in the refrigerator or freezer and reheat, adding water if necessary.
Nutrition Information
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Hearty Ham and Navy Bean Delight?
It is a quintessential comfort food soup combining savory ham and tender navy beans, cooked slowly in a crock pot for a rich, wholesome flavor.
How should I prepare the navy beans before cooking?
Rinse the beans in cold water, soak them in 6 cups of water, bring to a boil, simmer for 2 minutes, and then let them sit until ready to assemble.
What type of ham is recommended for this recipe?
Black forest ham is recommended for its rich flavor, and you should use about 4 cups of finely diced ham.
How long does this soup need to cook in the crock pot?
The soup should cook on the LOW setting overnight, typically for about 15 hours.
What vegetables are included in the recipe?
The recipe includes celery, carrots, onions, and both red and yellow bell peppers.
Can I use V8 juice instead of tomato juice?
Yes, you can use either 2 cups of tomato juice or 2 cups of V8 juice.
How do I thicken the soup without adding flour?
About 1 to 3 hours before serving, use a potato masher to mash a small portion of the beans against the bottom of the crock pot.
Is this recipe low-carb?
Yes, this recipe is described as a satisfying, low-carb choice for the whole family.
What spices are used to season the soup?
The soup is seasoned with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and bay leaves.
What should I do if the beans are still hard after 15 hours?
If the beans need more time to soften after the initial 15 hours on LOW, you can switch the crock pot to the HIGH setting.
How should I store leftovers?
Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator or freezer and should be reheated with a little added water if necessary.
Can I prepare the ingredients in advance?
Yes, you can dice the vegetables and ham the day before and store them in a sealed container in the refrigerator.
What is the recommended size for the diced vegetables?
The celery, carrots, onions, and bell peppers should all be finely diced.
How much water is added to the crock pot?
You should pour in 6 cups of water after adding the juice and other ingredients.
What can I add for an extra kick of flavor?
You can offer optional Tabasco sauce to guests for an extra kick when serving.
What should I do if the soup appears too watery?
You can allow the soup to sit with the heat on and skim off excess liquid using a measuring cup.
How much celery is required?
The recipe calls for 2 cups of finely diced celery.
How much carrot is required?
The recipe calls for 2 cups of finely diced carrots.
How many onions should I use?
You should use 2 cups of finely diced onions.
What kind of bell peppers are used?
The recipe uses 1-1.5 cups each of red and yellow bell peppers.
How many bay leaves are needed?
The recipe requires 2 bay leaves.
When do I add the bay leaves?
Add the bay leaves after seasoning the bean, ham, and vegetable mixture with salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
Do I need to drain the beans after soaking?
Yes, the instructions state to drain the navy beans before transferring them to the crock pot.
How much garlic powder is used?
The recipe calls for 1 teaspoon of garlic powder.
Is this recipe good for meal prepping?
Yes, it is noted as being perfect for meal prepping due to its large batch size and easy storage.
When should I start the soaking process?
The soaking process should be started 'The Day Before' you plan to assemble the soup.
What is the total amount of diced ham?
The recipe calls for 4 cups of finely diced ham.
How much salt and pepper is recommended?
The recipe suggests 2 teaspoons of salt and 2 teaspoons of pepper.
Is this soup suitable for cold weather?
Yes, it is described as being perfect for chilly days and providing a delicious aroma for the home.
Can I use a potato masher in a crock pot?
Yes, the instructions suggest using a potato masher against the bottom of the crock pot to crush some beans for thickness.