Ham Bone Stew

Main Course
Soups & Stews

Recipe courtesy of Kitchen & Culture

Serves 8-10

Ingredients: 
  • 1 pound cannellini beans
  • 12 ounces smoked sausage, halved lengthwise and sliced crosswise
  • 3 tablespoons bacon grease or fat skimmed off Ham Bone Stock
  • 2 cups chopped onion
  • 1 cup chopped celery
  • 1 bunch green onions, thinly sliced, green and white parts separate
  • ¼ cup minced garlic
  • 2 10-ounce cans diced tomatoes with chiles
  • Ham Bone Stock as needed (see method)
  • 2 bay leaves
  • salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper to taste
  • 8 ounces cooked ham, diced

 

Ham Bone Stock:

  • 1 meaty ham bone
  • 1 onion, trimmed and quartered
  • 6 cloves garlic, lightly crushed
  • 2 sprigs parsley
  • 2 sprigs fresh thyme
  • 1 tablespoon peppercorns
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 teaspoon ham base (optional)
  • 3 quarts water

Ham Bone Stew

Ham Bone Stew

Click image to enlarge

 

Method: 

Pick over beans; soak overnight in plenty of water. Drain.

Put a Dutch oven over medium-high heat and add sausage. Cook, stirring often, until sausage is browned; use a slotted spoon to remove to a bowl and set aside.

Add bacon grease; when hot, add onion and celery and cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are translucent. Add white parts of green onions and cook 2 minutes; add garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add drained beans, tomatoes, enough Ham Bone Stock to cover the beans by 2 inches, bay leaves, and salt, pepper, and cayenne to taste. Stir in about a third of the cooked sausage. Bring to a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, until beans are very soft, 1½-3 hours, depending on the age of the beans; add additional water or stock as needed.

About 30 minutes before the beans are done, add ham and remaining sausage; taste and adjust seasoning. Stir in green onion tops just before serving.

 

Ham Bone Stock:

Put all ingredients in a large stock pot. Bring to a simmer and cook, adding water as necessary, for about 3 hours. Use tongs to remove the ham bone to a bowl and set aside or discard. Strain stock and discard solids. Refrigerate stock overnight, then remove fat cap from stock; save for another use or discard.

Louisiana Recipes Weekly



 

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