OUR FAVORITE RECIPES - KEEP WARM WITH THIS YUMMY FAVORITE
WHITE BEAN SOUP WITH SMOKED HAM
Just a little something we found from Williams Sonoma, Seasonal Favorites (appropriately Winter). Hopefully this will keep you warm during these extremely cold days.
Difficulty: Medium
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 2 hours, 30 minutes
Servings: 6
Ingredients:
3/4 cup dried small white, white kidney, or cannellini beans
6 fresh parsley sprigs
2 fresh thyme sprigs
2 bay leaves
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/4 lb bacon, finely diced
1 yellow onion, minced
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 smoked ham hocks, 1 lb total weight
1 1/2 cups peeled, seeded and chopped tomatoes (fresh or canned)
6 cups chicken stock
3 tablespoons chopped fresh mint, plus mint sprigs for garnish (optional)
Salt and freshly ground pepper
Instructions
Pick over the beans and discard any impurities or damaged beans. Rinse, place in a bowl, and add water to cover. Soak for 3 hours. Drain and place in a saucepan with the parsley, thyme, bay leaves, and water to cover by 2 inches. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat to low and simmer, uncovered, until nearly tender, 40-50 minutes. Drain well; discard the parsley thyme, and bay leaves.
Meanwhile, in a soup pot over medium heat, warm the olive oil. Add the bacon and onion and sauté, stirring them occasionally, until the onion is soft, about 10 minutes. Add the garlic and continue to cook for 1 minute. Add the ham hocks, tomatoes, and chicken stock and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and cook, uncovered, until the ham just begins to fall from the bone, about 1 hour. Add the beans and continue to simmer until the ham easily falls from the bones and the beans are tender, about 1 hour longer.
Remove the ham hocks from the soup and set aside until cool. Discard the skin and bones and cut the meat into 1/2-inch pieces. Add the ham and chopped mint to the soup, stir well, and season to taste with salt and pepper.
Ladle the soup into warmed bowls, garnish with mint sprigs if desired, and serve at once.
BON APPETIT!
CATHY MALLERS & DEAN'S TEAM CHICAGO
