White Bean and Ham Soup

I’m a big fan of comfort food, and I’m longing for cooler weather right now. The South Florida summer is kicking in, and cool days here are 85 degrees. I miss those few chilly days we get each year when it dips waaaay down into the 50’s, and it’s showing in the foods I’m craving lately. White bean and ham soup is classic southern comfort food, so here we go!

This post was originally published on May 23, 2017. The text and photos were updated on August 2, 2021. The review and rating have not been changed.

Hearty white bean and ham soup, perfect for cold winter days! White beans, ham shanks, onions, celery, carrots, garlic, Tabasco, and herbs.

Recipe Author: Elise Bauer at Simply Recipes
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The Ingredients

The first time I made this recipe, everything was easy to find except the smoked ham hocks. I ended up going with fresh ham shanks from the meat counter. Now I keep an eye out and pick up a couple of packages whenever I run across them (this recipe needs 4 smoked hocks or 2 fresh).

There are advantages and disadvantages to both. For example, fresh pork hocks have a lot more meat on them. I really like that. The smoked hocks barely have any meat, but they do add that extra smoky flavor. But either way, this soup is glorious, and you can’t go wrong with smoked or fresh.

I’ve always used canned beans when I make soup, so I really wanted to try using dried beans this time. I’m not the best planner and remembering to soak the beans the night before I want soup could be a challenge for me. However, the 2-hour boil-and-soak method listed in this recipe was definitely something I could handle.

White Bean and Ham Soup Ingredients
Smoked pork hocks, cannellini beans, olive oil, onion, carrot, celery, garlic, and herbes de Provence

The Process

This recipe is quick to prep and easy to cook. I had everything ready to go in 10 minutes, just as listed. Seasonings are listed as “add to taste”. I’d say I used about a teaspoon of coarse sea salt, half a teaspoon of freshly ground black pepper, and 1-2 teaspoons of Tabasco sauce.

No special equipment was needed. I used my 5.3-quart cast iron casserole on the stovetop, plus a skillet for the onions & garlic and a smaller pot for the beans. The water didn’t quite cover the ham hocks, so I’ll probably add more next time so I don’t have to turn them to get them to cook evenly.

Tip: Start boiling the ham hocks/shanks for the broth while the beans are soaking. I started the broth 50 minutes after the beans, and they finished around the same time.

Removing the meat from the smoked ham hocks
Removing the meat from the smoked ham hocks

So how was it?

Clear & Accurate Directions
Accurate Time(s)
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This recipe is uncomplicated, clearly written, and makes a delicious white bean and ham soup. I think finding smoked ham shanks would have really put this dish over the top, but fresh still made a soup my husband and I loved. The broth was sublime, and the soup really did get better the next day. The only negative here is the 3 1/2 hour cooking time--waiting for this was pretty tough because it smelled so good while it was cooking!
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I'm Candice, and I'm The Hungry Pinner. I created this blog to share my love for cooking and my experiences with the MANY recipes I've found on Pinterest over the years. Join me as I blog my way through those recipes to find out if they are worth trying yourself.

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This recipe is uncomplicated, clearly written, and makes a delicious white bean and ham soup. I think finding smoked ham shanks would have really put this dish over the top, but fresh still made a soup my husband and I loved. The broth was sublime, and the soup really did get better the next day. The only negative here is the 3 1/2 hour cooking time--waiting for this was pretty tough because it smelled so good while it was cooking!White Bean and Ham Soup