Smoked ham, white bean, and a dash of flavored herbs are the perfect combination for a hearty and delicious Instant pot Ham and Beans Soup!
All my family members are soup addicted. In my house, nobody gets tired of soups, and this is why it is never missing from our menu. Another reason why I love soups is that it is the ultimate comfort food. Prepare a big batch and have it on hand for almost a week especially on days you have no time to cook. It saves you so much time and effort.
One of our favourite soups is Ham and Bean Soup. Packed with smoked ham, veggies, beans, and a dash of herbs, this soup hits all the spots.
I would never think that my daughter would declare that this Ham and Bean Soup “is the best soup of her life!”. And you should know that I have a rather spoiled child to food, with many discussions on why to eat vegetables and why wholemeal bread is better than the white one, etc. So if you crave a bowl of good smoked bean soup, quick and simple to prepare, I highly recommend this recipe.
What beans do you use for Ham and Bean soup?
There is no certain rule of what beans are the best to use for Ham and Bean Soup recipe. So, go free to use any kind you have in your kitchen or you love. Both canned and dried beans never missed from my pantry.
I always prefer dried beans and boil them by my self. Anyway, canned beans are easier and quicker to use. They often save me time, especially when I want to make a quick but tasty and hearty meal.
So if you intend to prepare a soup from dried beans then you have to boil them first. I recommend you before boiling, to soak beans overnight (or at least 3 hours). It will save your cooking time, as already well-hydrated and soften beans boil faster. Before cooking, drain the soaked beans and transfer them in a boiling pan. Add water to cover the content and boil on medium heat. For taste add one onion, 1-2 bay leaves, salt, and some whole black peppers. Boil the beans for about one hour or until they are soft and creamy. Do not throw away boiling liquid, you can easily use it for the soup if you do not have either broth or stock.
What ingredients do I need to make Instant Pot Ham and Bean Soup?
To prepare this hearty and delicious Ham and Bean Soup beside the main ingredient – Beans – you will need the following flavoured ingredients:
Certainly, the king ingredient that plays an important role in getting the best-flavoured broth is Ham. This is a perfect comfort recipe to use up leftovers. The best taste you will get from the ham bone, anyway, smoked ham slices will provide good flavour too.
Herbs – adding herbs and spices to this soup is always an adventure. Actually, each time I made this soup I use to play with different combinations of herbs and spices. My favourite is the ground coriander (I never cheat on this) but I also like rosemary, marjoram, and thyme. In this soup, I love them dried even more than fresh. I also like Italian herbs mix and of course bay leaves. You can add whatever you got and like. Versatile herbs make a whole difference in soup taste and make it incredibly aromatic.
Vegetables – onion, celery, carrot, bell pepper – the perfect addition for more flavour and colour.
How to make Instant Pot Ham and Bean Soup?
Prepare your Instant pot and set the Saute program. Add 3 tbsp of olive oil and leave it to heat. Meanwhile, cut in small cubes about 15 oz of ham and add it to heated oil. Brown it for 3-6 minutes. If you have lean meat then brown it less than 3 minutes, but if you are using fatty ham then fry it for 5-6 minutes. Now add the finely diced 1 red onion. In a minute add 1 carrot, 1 bell pepper, and 2 stalks of celery cut into cubes. Season with 1 tsp of ground garlic, 1 tsp of ground coriander, 1 tsp of dried thyme, 1 tsp of dried oregano, ¼ tsp of red pepper flakes, and ⅓ tsp of ground black pepper. Saute the ingredients for about 7-8 minutes stirring often.
Pour in 5 cups of broth/stock over the ingredients. Then add 2 cups of white boiled beans (if canned with their juice), and 2 bay leaves. Stir to combine everything well, and taste for seasoning. Adjust if needed and add salt to taste. Actually, liquid (water, broth, or stock) quantity depends on how thick you want your soup to be.
Place the lid on, and set the vent to “sealing.” Set the IP to “high pressure” for 20 minutes. Once the soup is done, turn off the Instant Pot. Let it cool down for some minutes and serve topped with some chopped parsley or cilantro. Such a warm and cosy plate with delicious ingredients.
Can I make Ham and Bean Soup in the slow cooker?
Certainly, you can make easily this soup in the slow cooker. First, simply saute a little the ham and vegetables. Then, add all the rest of the ingredients in the pot and let the soup slowly cook for 8 hours.
Can I make Ham and Bean Soup on the stove?
Before I discovered the Instant Pot ( which considerably make the cooking process easier), I used to cook this Ham and Bean Soup on the stove. It tastes not worse, but it just takes a little more time to cook this decadent soup.
What to serve with Instant Pot Ham and Bean Soup?
Ham and Bean Soup are usually served warm with a fresh crusty ciabatta or cornbread. For more flavour, garnish with some shredded cheddar and bacon crumbs. A spoon of sour cream and chopped cilantro will only complement this best recipe.
How to store Instant Pot Ham and Bean Soup?
The best way to store the soup is to refrigerate it in an airtight container. It can stay fresh for up to 5 -6 days. While refrigerating, the soup will thicken, but once you reheat it, it will loosen up again. Do not reheat the whole leftovers because it will spoil faster. Reheat in a soup pan only the amount you are going to serve.
Can I freeze Instant Pot Ham and Bean Soup?
I do not practice to freeze soups and do not recommend you too. After thawing any soups, they tend to lose their fresh taste and flavours. Anyway if you are always in lack of time, you can freeze separate ready-to-cook ingredients, like broth, chopped vegetables, chopped ham/bacon. Then, when you crave delicious soup just combine all ingredients and simmer for half an hour and voila!
Enjoy this hearty Instant pot Ham and Bean Soup and warm your soul!
Instant Pot Ham and Beans Soup
Equipment
- instant pot
Ingredients
- 15 oz ham
- 2 cups beans boiled
- 1 carrot
- 1 red onion
- 1 red bell pepper
- 2 stalks of celery
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp ground coriander
- 1 tsp ground garlic
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- ¼ tsp red pepper flakes
- ¼ tsp ground black pepper
- 2 bay leaves
- 5 cups broth or stock
Instructions
- Prepare your Instant pot and set the Saute program.
- Add 3 tbsp of olive oil and leave it to heat. Meanwhile, cut in small cubes about 15 oz of ham and add it to heated oil. Brown it for 3-6 minutes.
- Now add finely diced 1 red onion. In a minute add 1 carrot, 1 bell pepper, and 2 stalks of celery cut into cubes. Season with 1 tsp of ground garlic, 1 tsp of ground coriander, 1 tsp of dried thyme, 1 tsp of dried oregano, ¼ tsp of red pepper flakes, and ¼ tsp of ground black pepper. Saute for about 7-8 minutes stirring often.
- Pour in 5 cups of broth/stock over the ingredients. Then add 2 cups of white boiled beans (if canned with their juice), and 2 bay leaves. Stir to combine everything well, and taste for seasoning. Adjust if needed and add salt to taste.
- Place the lid on, and set the vent to "sealing." Set the IP to "high pressure" for 15 minutes. Once the soup is done, turn off the Instant Pot.
- Serve warm with fresh crusty ciabatta and garnish with chopped cilantro!
