Ham and White Bean Soup Recipe

• 1 pound (2 1/2 cups) dry white beans, like cannellini or Great Northern
• 2 quarts of water
• 2-3 pounds smoked ham shanks or ham hocks
• 2 teaspoons Herbes de Provence, or Italian seasoning
• 1 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 1 cup diced onions (about 1 small onion)
• 1 cup chopped celery (about 2-3 ribs)
• 2/3 cup chopped carrots (about 1 medium carrot)
• 2-3 cloves garlic, minced
• Tabasco sauce
• Salt and pepper
• Fresh parsley

METHOD :

1 Soak the dry beans: Fill a pot large enough to hold the beans with water and bring to a boil. Turn off the heat, add the beans and soak for about 2 hours. Drain the water.

2 Simmer the ham: While the beans are soaking in step 1, put the ham shanks or ham hocks in a separate large pot and cover them with 2 quarts of water. Add the herbes de Provence or Italian seasoning. Warm on high heat until the water comes to a simmer, then lower the heat, partially cover and maintain the simmer for about an hour.