Ham Kale White Bean Soup (Printable)

A comforting blend of ham, white beans, and kale in a flavorful broth for a wholesome meal.

# What Goes In:

→ Meats

01 - 1 pound cooked ham, diced

→ Vegetables

02 - 1 large yellow onion, diced
03 - 3 medium carrots, peeled and sliced
04 - 2 celery stalks, sliced
05 - 4 cups chopped kale, stems removed
06 - 3 cloves garlic, minced

→ Beans and Legumes

07 - 2 cans cannellini beans (15 ounces each), drained and rinsed

→ Liquids

08 - 6 cups low-sodium chicken broth
09 - 1 cup water

→ Herbs and Spices

10 - 1 bay leaf
11 - 1 teaspoon dried thyme
12 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
13 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika, optional
14 - Salt to taste

→ Oils

15 - 2 tablespoons olive oil

# How to Make It:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add onion, carrots, and celery. Cook for 5 to 6 minutes, stirring occasionally, until vegetables begin to soften.
02 - Add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
03 - Stir in diced ham and cook for 2 minutes.
04 - Add cannellini beans, chicken broth, water, bay leaf, thyme, black pepper, and smoked paprika if using. Bring to a boil.
05 - Reduce heat to a simmer. Cover and cook for 20 minutes.
06 - Add chopped kale and simmer uncovered for 8 to 10 minutes until kale is tender and flavors meld.
07 - Taste and adjust salt as needed. Remove bay leaf before serving.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It comes together in under an hour, which means you can have dinner on the table without feeling like you've spent your whole evening cooking.
  • The combination of creamy beans, smoky ham, and peppery kale hits every comfort food craving while keeping you feeling genuinely full and satisfied.
  • It's naturally gluten-free and dairy-free, so you're not sacrificing anything when you invite friends with different diets to the table.
02 -
  • Drain and rinse your canned beans thoroughly—I learned this the hard way when my soup turned cloudy and starchy, but rinsing them makes your broth stay clear and lets all the individual flavors shine through.
  • Don't skip removing the kale stems; they're tough and fibrous and will stay that way no matter how long you cook them, so three minutes with a knife now saves a weird texture later.
03 -
  • If you're making this vegetarian, swap in vegetable broth and add an extra can of beans or a handful of sliced mushrooms so it still feels hearty and complete without the ham.
  • Smoked turkey or good sausage work beautifully as ham substitutions if you want to switch things up, and they'll give you that same savory, satisfying depth.
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