Basic Ham and Bean Soup

Basic Ham and Bean Soup

Ingredients

• ½ teaspoon ground white pepper, or to taste
• 8 cups water
• 1 pound dry great northern beans, sorted and rinsed
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 cup chopped carrots
• 1 cup chopped onion
• ½ stalk celery, chopped
• 1 teaspoon minced garlic
• 1 teaspoon mustard powder
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 ham hock
• 2 cups chopped ham

Directions:

1. Place water and beans in a large pot; bring to a boil over high heat.
2. Stir in salt and remove the pot from heat; cover, and let stand for 1 hour.
3. Add carrots, onion, celery, garlic, mustard, and bay leaves to the pot with beans; stir well.
4. Add ham hock and bring to a boil; reduce heat to low and simmer for 1 hour.
5. Remove ham hock and discard. Stir in chopped ham and simmer for 30 minutes.
6. Season with ground white pepper to taste.