Ingredients
- 1 pound great northern beans (or other white beans)
- 1 onion, chopped
- 1 carrot, chopped
- 3 garlic cloves, crushed
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- Black pepper to taste
- 1 teaspoon thyme leaves
- 1 bay leaf
- Pinch red pepper flakes (amount to your liking)
- Ham bone (or other suitable seasoning, such as a ham hock or smoked turkey leg/wing)
- 8 ounces chopped smoked ham
- 6 cups water
How to Make
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Step 1: Sort beans and place in a dutch oven covered with a few inches of water.
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Step 2: Bring beans to a boil and cook 3 minutes. Shut off heat, cover tightly and allow to sit for one hour.
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Step 3: Drain soaked beans and return to pot with 6 cups of water, chopped onion, chopped carrot, crushed garlic, baking soda, black pepper, thyme leaves, bay leaves, pepper flakes, and ham bone.
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Step 4: Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer, cover, and cook for one hour.
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Step 5: Uncover and remove ham bone, pepper flakes and bay leaf, then partially mash some of the cooked beans.
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Step 6: Stir in chopped ham pieces and any usable ham/hock/turkey from the seasoning meat, then cook until thickened, adjusting for salt before serving, if needed.
Tips & Variations
- You can do this in a slow cooker after the pre-cook unless you soak the beans overnight- same difference. Takes about 8 hours on low.
We hope you enjoy this recipe!
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