White Limas & Country Ham Soup
By
Heidi Hoerman
@heidicookssupper
1
This recipe can be adapted for almost any dried bean but large white limas result in a dreamy, creamy soup with a mild bean flavor.
Ingredients
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PARBOILING THE BEANS
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1 lbdried white lima beans or other dried beans
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·water to cover beans
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COOKING THE BEANS AND HAM
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2 Tbspolive oil
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1 largeonion, coarsely chopped
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6 to 8 ozcountry ham or other cured ham, coarsely chopped
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4 to 6 cwater
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ADDING THE VEGETABLES AND SPICES SEASONINGS
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2 mediumcarrots, sliced
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2 to 3stalks celery, sliced
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1 largered bell pepper, coarsely chopped
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1/2 tspeach, ground sage, ground thyme, and ground marjoram (or other herbs and spices to taste)
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·salt (if necessary upon tasting)
How to Make White Limas & Country Ham Soup
- Rinse the dried beans and pick through to remove any sticks or stones.
- Place the dried beans in a large soup pot, cover with water to a depth of 2 inches over the tops of the beans. Bring to a boil. Turn off the burner, cover, and let rest 1 hour. (Alternatively, follow the pre-soaking directions usually found printed on the bag of beans)
- Drain the beans, discarding the water they boiled in.
- In the now-empty soup pot, heat the olive oil and saute the onion until translucent.
- Add the country ham and saute and addition 2 or 3 minutes.
- Add 4 to 6 cups of water, cover the soup pan, and move to a 300F oven for 2 hours. The beans should be cooked through and soft at this point. If they are still crunchy, continue to cook them. (Alternatively, simmer on top of the stove but check and stir occasionally to be sure the simmer is constant and the beans do not boil dry.)
- Add the carrots, celery, red bell pepper, and the herbs. Stir to distribute all ingredients evenly. Cover and return to the oven for 1 additional hour.
- Taste the soup and adjust the seasoning with salt, which may or may not be needed depending on the saltiness of the country ham.
- Serve hot.
