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Hearty Ham and White Bean Soup with Rosemary

Hearty Ham and White Bean Soup with Rosemary - featured image
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A warm, comforting soup featuring smoky ham, creamy white beans, and fresh rosemary, perfect for cozy dinners and easy weeknight meals.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 cups diced cooked ham (leftover baked ham or smoked ham recommended)
  • 3 cups cooked white beans (cannellini or Great Northern beans; canned, drained and rinsed acceptable)
  • 1 medium yellow onion, diced
  • 2 medium carrots, peeled and diced
  • 2 stalks celery, diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2–3 sprigs fresh rosemary, finely chopped
  • 6 cups low-sodium chicken broth
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • 1 bay leaf (optional)
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice (optional)

Instructions

  1. Dice the onion, carrots, celery, and ham into bite-sized pieces. Mince the garlic and finely chop the rosemary leaves, discarding woody stems.
  2. Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil over medium heat in a large heavy-bottomed pot. Add onion, carrots, and celery. Stir occasionally until onion is translucent and carrots begin to soften, about 6-8 minutes.
  3. Add garlic and rosemary; cook for another minute until fragrant, being careful not to burn the garlic.
  4. Stir in diced ham and white beans; warm through for about 2 minutes.
  5. Pour in 6 cups chicken broth and add bay leaf. Increase heat to bring soup to a gentle boil.
  6. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer gently for 25-30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  7. Remove bay leaf. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Stir in lemon juice if using.
  8. Serve warm, optionally with crusty bread or a green salad.

Notes

For thicker soup, mash a small portion of beans against the pot side before serving. Adjust rosemary amount to taste; add extra sprigs during simmering if desired. If soup tastes flat, add a pinch of smoked paprika or a splash of apple cider vinegar. Use good quality ham for best flavor. Rinse canned beans thoroughly to reduce saltiness. Fresh rosemary is preferred; dried rosemary should be added earlier in cooking.

Nutrition

Keywords: ham soup, white bean soup, rosemary soup, hearty soup, easy soup recipe, leftover ham recipe, cozy dinner, gluten-free soup

Find it online: https://emmayum.com/hearty-ham-and-white-bean-soup-with-rosemary-easy-homemade-recipe/