Ham Bone Soup

Ham Bone Soup

Spiral sliced ham is available for a great price this time of year. We bought one and put half of it in the freezer for later. We also skip the glazing. Inevitably, you will be left with the ham bone with a lot of meat attached. This is my very simple and easy recipe for a delicious ham bone soup.

I placed the ham bone in our slow cooker and covered it completely with water. I set on low overnight (or for 6-8 hours). We woke up to a wonderful aroma, which was also driving our pups bonkers. In the morning it looked like this.

I forgot to soak the pinto beans overnight, so I gave them a two hour soak while we went for coffee. It was plenty of time.

Now, let’s make some soup! In a heavy pot (I used my glazed cast iron pot), sautee the onion, garlic and peppers in butter (or olive oil). Then add carrots.

Now strain your ham stock with a fine mesh strainer and transfer the stock to your pot. (Keep the remnants of ham in the crock pot until it cools enough to handle.) Stir in parsley, black pepper and oregano. Toss in a bay leaf.

Separate and shred the meat from the slow cooker and add to the soup. Our ham bone was holding on to a LOT of meat!

Add the meat and drained beans to the soup and simmer uncovered on low for 1 ½ to 2 hours.

Add salt to taste and enjoy!

Recipe: Ham Bone Soup

sautee in 1 Tb butter:

1/2 onion, diced

4 cloves garlic, crushed or diced

3 hot peppers, diced

add:

6 diced carrots

3 Tb oregano

3 Tb parsley

1 Tb pepper

1 bay leaf

1 ½ cps pinto beans (soaked for a few hours first)

strained stock

meat off bone - add to soup

simmer for 1 1/2 to 2 hours

add salt to taste