Ham and Beans and More

Ham and bean soup can be a little bland and requires a lot of salt to be palatable, but not so with this version. It is bursting with flavor.

Step: 1

Place the beans into a large container and cover with several inches of cool water; let stand 8 hours to overnight. Drain and rinse before using.

Step: 2

Combine the soaked beans, 4 cups of water, celery, onion, bay leaves, cumin, garlic powder, and parsley into a slow cooker.

Step: 3

Melt the butter with the olive oil in a skillet over medium heat; cook and stir the leeks in the butter mixture until tender and the smaller pieces start to brown, 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer the leeks to the slow cooker. In the same pan, cook and stir the ham until the edges start to brown; stir into the soup. Place the bacon into the hot skillet, and pan-fry until the bacon is crisp, about 10 minutes. Cut the bacon into bite-size pieces and stir into the soup. Pour the chicken stock into the hot skillet, and stir to dissolve any brown flavor bits from the skillet; pour the chicken stock into the soup. Season with sea salt and pepper.

Step: 4

Set the cooker to Low cook the soup until the beans are very tender, 6 to 8 hours. Roughly mash about half the beans with a potato masher to thicken the soup.

Per Serving: 459 calories; protein 25.5g; carbohydrates 39.9g; fat 22.3g; cholesterol 47.5mg; sodium 944.6mg.

Prepare your food in advance can be extremely enjoyable when you do it with your favorite music in the yard , a relaxing beverage of choice or even a partner. It is thoughtful to write every step you fell right to create the food , which may include all of it from your kitchen cupboard and utensils to your processing menu . Make sure to checkdown the ingredients in order , so as not to forget one . A handwritten list is typically best.

Having the right cooking tools is just as one most required as having the right dishes menu . This includes everything from pots, pans, bowls and utensils to those essential items that are sometimes to forget, such as parchment paper and foil. goods like squeeze bottles for make sure to the perfect drizzle or decoration to your dish and long tweezers to range smaller and thinner dish are a likely for all of home chef.