Sweet Ham and Three Bean Soup

Leftover sweet ham from the holidays has always been my favorite! I just love the thought that I can make delicious sandwiches, healthy salad and fine tasting soup with it!

Today, I'm sharing with you the soup that I made from our leftover Christmas ham. It's a combination of sweet ham and freshly cooked beans (black, red kidney and pinto) cooked in ham bone broth. I'm telling you, it was really so comforting and tasty! There is so much flavor in the ham bone that made this soup taste even better. 
The next time you have leftover ham, you should give this a try!






Ingredients: 




*Serve 6-8

  • 3/4 cup black beans, soaked and drained
  • 3/4 cup red kidney beans, soaked and drained
  • 3/4 cup pinto beans, soaked and drained
  • 1 ham bone
  • 1 tsp all-spice
  • 1 cup tomatoes, seeds removed and chopped
  • 1 cup diced extra-lean sweet ham
  • 2 stalks celery, chopped
  • 1 medium-sized onion, chopped 
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 Tbsp. Tabasco sauce
  • salt and pepper 
  • fresh cilantro (for topping)
Procedure:
1. After soaking for at least 1 hour, rinse beans in running water then drain. Put black beans and red kidney beans in a pot and cover with water about 2 inches above bean level. Bring to a boil over medium heat. While the beans boil, skim off all the scum or brown bubbles that will form on top. Turn the heat to medium low for a gentle simmer and cover the pot with a lid. 30 minutes after, add the pinto beans. Cook until the beans are done. It usually takes 1 1/2 hrs for the kidney beans to cook and 1 hr for the pinto beans. Once the beans are done, remove from heat and drain. 
2. While cooking the beans, put the ham bone in a large pot and cover with 12 cups of water. Add the all spice and 1 Tbsp salt. Bring to a boil and simmer for about an hour or until the remaining meat easily pulls away from the bone. Remove bone from broth, pull the meat off the bone and discard the bones. Chop the meat and put back into the broth.
3. Add beans and remaining ingredients. Season with salt and pepper to suit your taste. Cook for 15-20 minutes or until the vegetables are soft. Add Tabasco sauce. Mix well.
4. Transfer to individual serving bowls. Top with chopped fresh cilantro and serve with your favorite crackers. (The girls & I ate this with some cheddar crackers while Ryan topped it with tortilla chips and cheese just like tortilla soup.)

15 comments:

  1. I am just like you, with all the cooking I do, wasting food is a big no, simply because I always reflect back on those who can't even afford a simple one meal a day. A big yes to this soup because I am no 1 into soups but my hubby prefers his curries. My night meal when he is not around is always soup but you know I need my rice with it.

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  2. That is a great-looking soup, plus a good use of that leftover ham bone and meat.

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  3. I always make a bean or pea soup with our leftover ham bone...soooooooo good!!!

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  4. That look so good !! There's so much flavor in that ham bone that it's a shame just to throw it away ;)

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  5. Mmmm, looks wonderful. I agree that the bone gives so much flavor!

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  6. This does look tasty, three bean soup is always welcome in this house! Also, a ham bone is something not to throw away-it is the perfect addition of flavor to beans or soup!

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  7. Hi Tina! Hope you're doing good and having fun! ;D
    We love bean soups! Always had peanut and black eye bean soups on the savory side. Red or green bean soups for desserts. This sweet ham and THREE BEANS (YUMMY!!) soup looks so delicious especially when you used the ham bone for the broth! ;)

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    1. Tnx Lyn! I'm doing great! I'm sure life is a lot easier again for you because Cathy is back. :) Hope to chat with you again soon!

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  8. wow it looks great, after holiday I used the left my over ham in making carbonara and also in salad too.

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  9. Wow, this soup looks very tasty with ham and I like the idea of having different beans all in a pot.
    Hope you are having a wonderful week :-)

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  10. This is my dad's favorite soup. He would always use a big ol' ham bone after holiday dinners to make a soup just like this!

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  11. Delicious and wholesome soup. Have a great week end.
    There is an award waiting for you at my blog.
    http://www.easyfoodsmith.blogspot.com/

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  12. What a great soup and way to use left over ham! I wish I had thought to save my ham bone from the holidays too.

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  13. You know, I have never made dry beans before - I always use canned! This soup looks so yummy though - I've been sick lately and it is one of the few things that actually looks appetizing to me today. I hope I can make this soon, it's perfect cold weather food!

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