That is consolation meals at its most interesting—simple, hearty, and budget-friendly. Soaking the beans in a single day provides them that good, tender texture. Then toss all of it within the crockpot and the sluggish cooker does all of the give you the results you want. You need to use packaged diced ham or burn up leftovers. This dish is all about protecting issues easy and scrumptious.
Use our slow cooker ham recipe for leftovers, or attempt our life-changing pulled ham.
Why Our Recipe
- Easy prep with soaked beans and packaged diced ham or leftover ham.
- Set it and overlook it—simply prep and let your sluggish cooker deal with the remainder.
- Consolation meals dinner that’s as budget-friendly as it’s scrumptious.
This recipe is a complete lifesaver whenever you want a low-effort meal on a budget. It’s filling and straightforward to alter up to make use of up additional veggies you might have available. Serve it up with a slice of cornbread or some crusty bread, and dinner’s achieved. It doesn’t get a lot simpler than this!
Ingredient Notes
- Dried Nice Northern Beans: Retaining issues low-cost with dried beans. You possibly can additionally use navy or pinto beans.
- Yellow Onion: Use yellow or white and you’ll want to cube it.
- Celery Ribs: We wish to cube them to mix in, however you possibly can additionally simply slice them.
- Carrots: As soon as once more, cube them to have them mix in, however you possibly can additionally slice them for bigger chunks.
- Ham: Packaged ham is tremendous handy, however that is additionally a good way to make use of up leftover ham.
- Hen Broth: Go for low-sodium hen broth if you would like extra management over the salt degree which is management over taste. Vegetable broth additionally works.
- Minced Garlic: Freshly minced will all the time provide the finest taste. Jarred minced garlic works too, it simply has a barely bitter taste.
- Bay Leaves: Remember to take away them earlier than serving.
- Dried Thyme & Oregano: You possibly can play with the herbs, however that is the combo we like finest.
Ham Choices
Prepackaged Ham: Packaged ham is available in two frequent varieties—cubed and diced. This recipe requires cubed ham because it’s bigger, supplying you with larger chunks in each chew. The diced selection will even work within the recipe. Your alternative!
Leftover Ham: Leftover ham is ideal for this dish. Simply cube it into bite-sized items so it blends nicely with the beans and veggies.
Ham Steaks: Many grocery shops promote ham steaks, that are single slabs of ham. These are nice if don’t have leftovers available. Merely cube them up earlier than including them to the sluggish cooker.
Smoked Sausage Swap: For one thing completely different, attempt smoked sausage like andouille. Simply cube it into small items earlier than tossing it into the sluggish cooker for a smoky, barely spicy twist.
The Science of Soaking Beans
Soaking beans in a single day isn’t only a step to melt them. There’s science behind it!
Hydration for Even Cooking: Dried beans are like little sponges. Soaking them permits them to slowly soak up water, which rehydrates the robust outer pores and skin and softens the dense inside. This step ensures your beans prepare dinner evenly within the sluggish cooker, stopping any unpleasantly crunchy bites.
Reduces Cooking Time: By pre-soaking your beans, you’re giving the sluggish cooker a head begin. Beans that haven’t been soaked can take hours longer to prepare dinner by means of.
Helps with Bean Bloat: Beans naturally comprise compounds like phytic acid and oligosaccharides that may trigger somewhat bean bloat. Soaking helps break these down, making the beans simpler in your abdomen.
Cleans the Beans: Throughout soaking, beans launch filth, particles, and impurities, together with substances that trigger foaming throughout cooking. Draining and rinsing soaked beans ensures you’re beginning your recipe with clear beans.
Skipping Soaking Beans
You possibly can skip soaking the beans and nonetheless find yourself with a scrumptious pot of ham and beans. Right here’s what you should know:
Fast Soak Possibility: If you happen to’re brief on time, you may quick-soak the beans by boiling them for two minutes and letting them sit in scorching water for 1 hour earlier than draining and rinsing. It’s not as efficient as an in a single day soak, but it surely’s an ideal time-saver!
No Soaking at All: If you happen to skip soaking completely, dried beans will take longer to prepare dinner—plan so as to add an additional 1-2 hours on low within the sluggish cooker to ensure they soften correctly.
Rinse Completely: Even in the event you skip soaking, all the time rinse the dried beans totally beneath chilly water earlier than utilizing. This step removes filth and particles, so your beans are clear and able to prepare dinner.
Modify the Liquid: Unsoaked beans take in extra liquid whereas cooking. Regulate the liquid degree in your sluggish cooker and add an additional cup or two of broth as wanted to stop the dish from drying out.
Serving Options
Simply because it’s ham and beans, it doesn’t need to be boring! Serve alongside cornbread or any crusty bread from the bakery to take in the flavorful broth. Spoon the ham and beans over steamed white or brown rice to make it much more filling. Add a contemporary aspect of sautéed greens, like spinach. Garnish with contemporary parsley, a sprinkle of parmesan cheese, or perhaps a drizzle of scorching sauce for a spicy kick.
Storage & Reheating Directions
Refrigerate leftovers in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 5 days.
Freeze in an hermetic container or freezer bag for as much as 3 months.That within the fridge in a single day earlier than reheating.
Reheat within the microwave with particular person parts in a microwave-safe bowl. Cowl and warmth on excessive in 30-second increments, stirring between, till warmed by means of.
Reheat on the stovetop in a saucepan over medium-low, stirring sometimes, till warmed by means of.
Extra methods to eat beans…
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