Ingredients
1 lb dried navy beans or great northern beans
8 cups water or chicken broth
1 ham bone or 2 cups diced cooked ham
1 small onion, chopped
2 carrots, sliced
2 celery stalks, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/2 tsp paprika
1/2 tsp dried thyme
1 bay leaf
Instructions
Rinse the beans and sort through them, removing any debris. Place beans in a large pot with water or chicken broth.
Add the ham bone or diced ham, onion, carrots, celery, garlic, salt, black pepper, paprika, thyme, and bay leaf.
Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer for 1½ to 2 hours, stirring occasionally, until beans are tender and the soup is thick and flavorful.
If using a ham bone, remove it, shred any meat, discard the bone, and return the meat to the pot. Remove the bay leaf.
Serve hot with cornbread or crusty bread.
ADVERTISEMENT
