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Ham and Beans

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A comforting, budget-friendly dish of navy beans and diced ham, flavored with aromatics and simmered to perfection.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 20 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American
Calories: 350
Ingredients Method Nutrition Notes

Ingredients
  

Main Ingredients
  • 1 lb dried navy beans (or great northern/cannellini as a swap)
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil (or neutral oil like vegetable or canola)
  • 1 large onion, chopped (yellow or sweet onion)
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 cups ham, diced (leftover ham, ham steak, or use ham hock for deeper flavor)
  • 6 cups chicken broth (or low-sodium broth; for vegetarian version, use vegetable broth)
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme (or 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves)
  • 1 leaf bay leaf
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Soak the navy beans overnight in a large bowl of water. Cover with several inches of water; beans will expand. Drain and set aside.
  2. In a large pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat until shimmering. Add the chopped onion and cook until softened, about 5-7 minutes. Add garlic and cook for 30-60 seconds until fragrant.
  3. Stir in the diced ham and cook for 3-5 minutes. Let the ham brown lightly to deepen the flavor.
Cooking
  1. Add the soaked and drained beans, chicken broth, thyme, bay leaf, and a few grinds of black pepper. Do not add a lot of salt yet to prevent tough beans.
  2. Bring the pot to a gentle boil, then reduce heat to low. Cover partially and simmer for 1.5 to 2 hours, checking every 20-30 minutes. Keep enough liquid to cover the beans; add hot water or broth if needed.
  3. Beans are ready when tender and creamy inside. Taste and season with salt and more pepper as needed. Remove the bay leaf before serving.

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 350kcalCarbohydrates: 45gProtein: 25gFat: 10gSaturated Fat: 2gSodium: 800mgFiber: 10gSugar: 2g

Notes

For a lighter sodium dish, start with low-sodium broth and add salt at the end. Substitute ham hock for diced ham for richer flavor, or use canned beans for quicker preparation. Serve with rice, cornbread, or top with vinegar for brightness.
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