1 pound dried navy beans
\n1 ham hock (or ham bone)
\n1 large onion, chopped
\n2 carrots, peeled and chopped
\n2 celery stalks, chopped
\n2 cloves garlic, minced
\n6 cups chicken or vegetable broth
\n1 bay leaf
\n1 teaspoon dried thyme
\nSalt and black pepper, to taste
\nChopped fresh parsley for garnish (optional)<\/p>\n
Instructions:<\/p>\n
Prepare the Beans:
\nRinse the dried navy beans in cold water and remove any debris or stones. Place the beans in a large bowl, cover with water, and soak them overnight. Drain and rinse the soaked beans before using.
\nSaut\u00e9 Vegetables:
\nIn a large soup pot, heat a bit of oil over medium heat. Add the chopped onions, carrots, and celery. Saut\u00e9 for about 5 minutes until the vegetables begin to soften. Add the minced garlic and cook for an additional minute.
\nAdd Ham Hock and Beans:
\nPlace the ham hock in the pot with the saut\u00e9ed vegetables. Pour in the drained navy beans.
\nPour in Broth and Seasonings:
\nAdd the chicken or vegetable broth, bay leaf, and dried thyme to the pot. Stir to combine. You can season with salt and pepper at this point, but go easy on the salt since the ham hock will add saltiness.
\nSimmer:
\nBring the soup to a boil, then reduce the heat to low. Cover the pot and let it simmer for about 2 to 2.5 hours or until the beans are tender and the meat on the ham hock is falling off the bone. Stir occasionally.
\nRemove Ham Hock:
\nCarefully remove the ham hock from the pot. Allow it to cool slightly. Once it\u2019s cool enough to handle, shred the meat and discard any bone, fat, or skin. Return the shredded ham to the pot.
\nAdjust Seasonings:
\nTaste the soup and adjust the seasonings, adding more salt and pepper if needed. Remove the bay leaf.
\nServe:
\nLadle the Bean and Ham Hock Soup into bowls. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley if desired. Serve hot with crusty bread.<\/p>\n
This soup is rich, hearty, and makes a comforting meal, especially on a chilly day. Enjoy!<\/p>\n
Credit: menfod<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
1 pound dried navy beans 1 ham hock (or ham bone) 1 large onion, chopped 2 carrots, peeled and chopped 2 celery stalks, chopped 2 cloves garlic,… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5691,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5690","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\n