Hearty White Navy Bean & Ham Hock Soup
Warm yourself from the inside out with this nourishing Hearty White Navy Bean & Ham Hock Soup. This delightful dish features tender, creamy navy beans simmered to perfection with smoky ham hocks, fresh vegetables, and aromatic spices. Ideal for chilly days, this soup combines simplicity with comfort, bringing together wholesome ingredients to create a rich, flavorful meal. Whether you’re familiar with ham hocks or are willing to explore your local butcher for this inexpensive cut of meat, this recipe is designed to wow your taste buds while being easy on your wallet. Serve it with crusty artisan bread for a complete meal that celebrates the heartening goodness of homemade soup.
N/A
Servings
N/A
Calories
10
Ingredients
Ingredients
ham hocks
2 small (whole or use a ham bone or diced ham as a substitute)
white navy beans
450 g (washed and picked)
water
2 liters (for initial boiling, more may be needed later.)
bay leaf
1 (whole)
garlic cloves
2 (minced)
onion
1 medium (diced)
russet potatoes
2 small (peeled and chopped into medium dice)
lemon
1 (juice only)
kosher salt
to taste
fresh ground pepper
to taste
Instructions
1
Rinse the white navy beans thoroughly and check for any stones or debris. Set aside.
2
In a crockpot, add the washed beans and cover them with 2 liters of water. Set the crockpot to high and cook for 1 hour to soak the beans.
3
Once the beans have soaked, add the ham hocks to the crockpot. If ham hocks are unavailable, you can substitute with a ham bone or diced ham.
4
Add the bay leaf to the crockpot; it will float, so there’s no need to worry.
5
Dice the onion and mince the garlic, then add both to the crockpot with the beans and ham.
6
Peel and chop the russet potatoes into medium-sized pieces, then toss them into the mixture.
7
Cover the crockpot and reduce the heat to low. Cook everything together for about 10 hours until the beans are soft and the flavors meld.
8
Before serving, carefully remove the ham hocks and bay leaf from the soup. Allow the meat to cool slightly, then shred the ham from the bones and discard the bones.
9
Use an immersion blender to puree half of the soup directly in the crockpot for a thicker consistency, ensuring a comforting texture.
10
Return the shredded ham to the soup and stir to combine.
11
Adjust the seasoning by adding lemon juice, then taste and make necessary adjustments with kosher salt and freshly ground pepper according to your preference.
12
Once the soup reaches your desired flavor profile, ladle into bowls and serve hot, ideally with a slice of artisan bread for dipping and sopping.
13
Enjoy your homemade Hearty White Navy Bean & Ham Hock Soup, a perfect warm meal for winter weather!
Nutrition Information
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Hearty White Navy Bean & Ham Hock Soup?
It is a nourishing, creamy soup made by simmering tender navy beans with smoky ham hocks, fresh vegetables, and aromatic spices.
What type of beans are used in this recipe?
This recipe uses 450 grams of white navy beans that should be thoroughly rinsed and checked for debris before cooking.
How long does the soup need to cook in the crockpot?
After a 1-hour initial soak on high, the soup should cook on low for approximately 10 hours until the beans are soft.
Do I need to soak the navy beans before starting?
Yes, the recipe includes a step to soak the beans in the crockpot with 2 liters of water on high for 1 hour before adding other ingredients.
What can I use as a substitute for ham hocks?
If ham hocks are unavailable, you can substitute them with a ham bone or diced ham.
How much water is required for the recipe?
The recipe calls for 2 liters of water for the initial soak and boiling, though more may be needed later in the process.
What kind of potatoes should be added to the soup?
The recipe recommends using 2 small russet potatoes, peeled and chopped into medium-sized pieces.
Why is an immersion blender used in this recipe?
An immersion blender is used to puree half of the soup directly in the crockpot to create a thicker and more comforting consistency.
When should I add the lemon juice?
Lemon juice is added at the very end of the cooking process to adjust the seasoning and brighten the flavor profile.
What should I do with the ham hocks after cooking?
Carefully remove the ham hocks from the soup, allow them to cool, shred the meat from the bones, discard the bones, and return the meat to the pot.
What size should the onion and garlic be?
The recipe calls for one medium diced onion and two minced garlic cloves.
Is it necessary to remove the bay leaf?
Yes, the bay leaf should be removed from the soup before serving.
What is the best way to serve this soup?
It is best served hot in bowls, ideally accompanied by a slice of crusty artisan bread for dipping.
Can I use any type of salt?
The recipe specifically recommends using kosher salt to adjust the seasoning to your preference.
What temperature should the crockpot be set to for the main cook?
Once the initial soak is complete and ingredients are added, reduce the heat to low for the remaining 10 hours.
How many garlic cloves are included?
The recipe uses two cloves of garlic, minced.
Does the bay leaf need to be submerged?
No, the bay leaf will naturally float in the crockpot, so there is no need to worry about it.
Is this soup suitable for cold weather?
Yes, it is described as a perfect warm meal for winter weather and chilly days.
How do I prepare the beans?
Rinse them thoroughly and check for any stones or debris before placing them in the crockpot.
Can I use diced ham instead of whole ham hocks?
Yes, diced ham is a suitable substitute if ham hocks are not available.
What type of pepper is recommended?
Freshly ground pepper is recommended for the best flavor adjustment.
How many potatoes are used?
The recipe calls for 2 small russet potatoes.
Do I need to peel the potatoes?
Yes, the instructions specify to peel and chop the russet potatoes into medium-sized pieces.
What is the weight of the beans required?
The recipe requires 450 grams of white navy beans.
Is this recipe expensive to make?
No, the recipe is designed to be easy on your wallet, using inexpensive cuts of meat like ham hocks.
When do I return the shredded ham to the soup?
Return the shredded ham to the crockpot after you have pureed half of the soup with the immersion blender.
How do I adjust the final flavor?
Adjust the flavor by adding lemon juice, kosher salt, and freshly ground pepper according to your preference.
What is the total duration of the crockpot stages?
The total duration is 11 hours: 1 hour on high for soaking and 10 hours on low for cooking.
Can I use a ham bone?
Yes, a ham bone is an excellent alternative to ham hocks for this soup.
What is the texture of the finished soup?
The soup has a creamy and thick texture thanks to the navy beans and the process of pureeing half of the mixture.