Ham and Bean Soup With Collard Greens Recipe (2024)

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Joannah

Very Delicious, better the 2nd and third day. I used Kale and spinach, had one red pepper and one jalapeno. Used white navy beans. I will definitely cook this again.

Lynn

Blended a can of the white beans with the fresh parsley to make a paste and combined in with the soup to give the broth a little more body then added two cans of unblended beans in addition. I think this improved the texture of the soup a lot. Ladled over a scoop of cooked barley with crusty buttered bread on the side! Excellent!

Karen

Made this this morning, because I just happened to have all the ingredients to use up. What a find! Used canellini and kidney beans, 1.5 very large jalapeno (left half the seeds in) and 1 jumbo white onion.

Since I also had a smidge of sour cream to use up, I added that to my bowl with the hot sauce. The SC gives the soup a "floor" - it isn't needed, but it's a nice variation.

I agree that this would also be good with some rice or other grain.

Bottom line: a keeper.

Laurel T

I used swiss chard with the stems, chicken stock (I would use about 3 cups less) ,kidney beans and extra garlic. It would be good with a rice or another grain. It was hearty and delicious.

kniterati

Right? They look like limas or coronas. I am cleaning up a few from my dried bean inventory and cooking this up with talasanos and cannellinis. Beans and collards are a match made in heaven. Can't imagine leaving out the collards.

Meta

Usually follow the recipe closely the first time but in this case I used a high quality ham hock (instead of the ham) which I cooked with about 3/4ths pounds baby lima beans - then proceeded with the recipe as directed. It was excellent. The greens are essential. Did not serve with sour cream or yogurt. The chopped parsley is lost and unnecessary. Served with pumpkin corn bread.

katycarlock

Ok Southerner here, I love the ingredients of this recipe, beans & collards match, however…30 mins to cook greens? Only if pressure. For us, I save bones and roast from pork/chicken, then cook for 50 mins in crock pot under pressure gives u good gelatiny stuff. Do this night ahead, set & forget to cool. Then in am, strain out bones, throw in collards and I like to use white wine to help the broth, sometimes parm rind, but then cook on slow cook til dinner. Leftovers top w corn pudding and bake!

Max Alexander

Recipe calls for brown, red or pink beans but the photo clearly shows white beans.

Lisa London

This is a hearty, comforting, delicious soup. I used chicken stock and olive oil, but it was a bit on the salty side. I'd cut the amount of added salt next time because the ham adds a lot of its own. Used collards from my garden and ate it all week.

Laura in Oakland, CA

This soup is delicious and made even more so withthe addition of Edna Lewis’ cormeal dumplings. Recipe is undoubtedly on-line but is also foundon page 179 of her wonderful cookbook “The Gift of Southern Cooking”, written with Scott Peaco*ck, also a southern chef.

Erma

Made this today and the recipe worked wonderfully. I only have two suggestions: if you don’t have a hambone for stock, a jarred ham base works very well instead of chicken broth. And the perfect accompaniment to this soup is fresh cornbread. I made some in my cast iron skillet during the last 30 minutes of the soup simmering. Crumbled into the soup bowl—perfection!

Briana

Believe it or not, I make this vegan! I eliminate the ham and use vegetable broth and/or a miso based ramen broth. It’s still hearty and packed with flavor. Chard is a good substitute for collards. I also soak dry beans instead of canned for better depth of flavor! A keeper.

Carolyn

I followed the recipe except: I used two jalapenos but removed the seeds from one of them. The soup was wonderful, with just the right amount of heat for me and lovely tangy broth. I didn't use yogurt or sour cream--that, I think, would have dramatically changed the flavor of the soup.

Cristine

Loved this recipe! I used a mix of collard greens and rainbow chard, a yellow bell pepper instead of green, and added some fresh lemon juice at the end. Next time I may leave out the apple cider vinegar and just go with the lemon juice. Served with a warm French baguette. Everyone loved it!

Janet

This was delicious! Even my 3 yo grandson loved it. Didn’t add the jalapeño but subbed a poblano for the green pepper. Noticed that the recipe seemed to scream Louisiana at me with the holy trinity, bay leaf and spice, so I added a little Cajun seasoning. I also made a ham broth with the leftover hambone from Easter. Boiled it all day with a bay leaf. This definitely made the soup extra special.

ellen

for those who do not eat pork there is always the possibility of smoked turkey parts, i.e. neck, and wings.

Elsie

I made the recipe as written, except for parsley and optional cream, to compare it with family recipes. It didn't hold up. I would make the jalapeño peppers optional and addition of an aged red pepper - flaked (Cayenne or Aleppo), steeped in a vinegar-based sauce (Crystal or Louisiana), or both - required. These provide a richer taste. Putting them on the table allows for personal heat preferences. Vinegar should be on the table too. Adding a bit of brown sugar compensated for the jalapeño bite.

Peter D

Made my own red beans and used the bean broth instead of stock. The butcher had excellent andouille so I used that rather than ham. Excellent recipe - would make again!!

Splat

I used carnitas instead of ham, because that's what I had, and added a half of a poblano to the other peppers, because it was in the fridge, but otherwise followed the recipe. So delicious!Didn't need the sour cream/yogurt, but perhaps I'll try it when I make it again.

elinde

Since this was my first time making this soup, I followed the recipe closely, with the minor modification to season the ham with some pepper and a few generous shakes of cayenne, to impart heat for later. Served over rice. Absolutely delicious! Love the tip about pureeing an additional can of beans to give the soup a little more body, will try that next time… as there definitely will be a next time, and likely soon!

melissa in ny

This is a very delicious and warming soup, perfect for New Years. Made as written (except used a red bell pepper instead of green and dried parsley instead of fresh) and halved the recipe, which makes 2 generous dinner servings or 4 small appetizer servings. Definitely don’t skip the vinegar and hot sauce steps at the end, for me they were essential. Will make this again!

B

Made with frozen collards and pink beans, everything else per recipe. Delicious! will definitely make again.

Dan

Took bone from Christmas ham and made ham stock (bone, onion, carrots, celery, bay leaf simmered in water to cover for 4 hours). Then made recipe leaving out parsley and adding 2 small carrots. Drained most of water from canned pintos and included seeds with jalapeños. Simmered almost 2 hours as that's what Southerns do with collards. Absolutely delicious. Comfort food at its healthiest.

Paul

Added 1 cup dry vermouth & 2 more cups of broth for what we were looking for...and did NOT add more salt to 2 cups of ham! Also added a tablespoon of chipotle chili paste and a good squeeze of lime really rounds it out. Will make this whenever ham is in the kitchen, so good.

Kathi Jo

Loved this recipe... Every thing I love in the same pot! This is a quick dish for those busy days.

Wicko

This was delicious. Freezes beautifully.

Kymore

Very good. Added on hand, Spinach. Hambone tossed in. Delicious!

corinne

Loved this soup, after reading comments I made the following mods:-One seeded jalapeño, one not-Added 3 carrots-Used uncured bacon and ham, highly recommend using bacon! Added perfect smokiness -4 celery instead of 2 -6 garlic cuz never too much garlic imo -An entire bag of spinach -Added the liquid the beans came inThen I just added a bit more water to the soup and boom! Super hearty and delicious. A new staple.

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Ham and Bean Soup With Collard Greens Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Should collards be soaked before cooking? ›

One of the easiest ways to begin the washing process for collard greens is to thoroughly soak the leaves in cold water for about 10 to 15 minutes. This will loosen any dirt clinging to the leaves and remove any bugs that may be hiding.

What makes ham and bean soup thicken? ›

Add Flour Or Cornstarch

You can thicken soup by adding flour, cornstarch, or another starchy substitute. For the best results, never add flour or cornstarch directly to your soup.

Why does collard greens take so long to cook? ›

Long cooking time.

Slowly cooking collard greens not only softens the tough leaves, it also tames the leaves' bitter flavor.

How do you thicken bean soup naturally? ›

Mash beans, lentils, rice, or bread.

Rice, lentils, and beans release a lot of starch and naturally thicken soups simply from simmering, but you can also mash half the cooked rice/lentils/beans before adding to the soup for a simple way to thicken your dish.

Why do you put vinegar in collard greens? ›

This might seem like an unusual addition if you're new to making collard greens, but the vinegar adds a welcome tangy note that brightens the dish and balances out the salty, savory flavors. A tablespoon of sugar also helps balance out the greens' potential bitterness.

Why is my ham and bean soup watery? ›

Add More Beans

One of the simplest ways to thicken up your ham and bean soup is by adding more beans. The beans will naturally release starch as they cook, which will help to thicken the soup.

How do you make ham and bean soup less gassy? ›

To cut down on the gassy properties, you can add a little baking soda to your recipe. The baking soda helps break down some of the beans' natural gas-making sugars. I tested this while fixing one of my favorite slow cooker recipes: red beans and sausage.

Can you use instant mashed potatoes to thicken bean soup? ›

Honestly, if you just stir in a little instant mash, like Smash, your soup will thicken up in no time at all. Now, you may end up needing more than a spoonful, but it's best to add a little at a time, because remember, you can always add more of it, but you can't take it away.

Why put baking soda in collard greens? ›

Baking soda has infinite uses in cooking and beyond: It's a leavening agent, an odor neutralizer, and an antacid to name a few. In the case of collard greens, baking soda's utility is threefold, serving as a flavor enhancer, a tenderizer, and a color protector.

What is the best meat for collard greens? ›

The most authentic collard greens, in my opinion, are made with smoked ham hocks or bacon. But, as time has passed, society has gotten more health conscious. So, many families began using alternatives such as smoked turkey necks, wings, and tails.

What season does collard greens do best in? ›

In warm climates, collards do best when planted in the fall, as this allows them to mature during cooler weather. (They will bolt in the heat of summer!) Plus, collard greens taste even better when “kissed” by frost and will grow through snow.

What can I add to bean soup to thicken it? ›

In a separate bowl, dissolve a teaspoon or two of cornstarch or all-purpose flour in a small amount of cold water. Add the slurry to the bubbling soup. The soup should thicken up.

What does cornstarch do to soup? ›

Cornstarch, or corn flour, can be used to thicken soup through its high starch content. Cornstarch is a great thickener for soup because only a little bit is needed to significantly thicken a soup, and it will not affect the flavor profile of the soup.

What beans are good for thickening soup? ›

You can also thicken soup by puréeing it with cooked beans or lentils. White beans like cannellini beans or navy beans are especially good for puréeing. This recipe for Creamy Italian White Bean Soup is a great place to start. Puréeing hearty winter vegetables like butternut and kabocha squash will also do the trick.

How long do you soak collard greens before cooking? ›

Let the greens soak for 20-30 minutes, giving them a good scrub midway. The vinegar and salt will help loosen & remove any dirt, grit and bring out any bugs hiding in the greens. Drain the water and soak again in plain water (1-2 times) if the water is dirty and gritty.

Why do people soak collard greens? ›

Collard greens need a good soak in cold water before cleaning and cooking. Vinegar. While not absolutely necessary, vinegar does help to thoroughly clean the plant and remove dirt and debris.

Should you soak collard greens overnight? ›

Soaking collard greens for about 30 minutes to an hour is common. This helps to loosen any dirt or debris and can make them easier to clean.

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