Spicy Ham Hock & Bean Delight

Spicy Ham and Bean Soup Recipe

🕒 Total Time: 2 hours 15 minutes
🥄 Servings: Makes about 8 servings

Ingredients:

• 3 ham hocks
• 3 kielbasa sausages, sliced
• 8 cups water or stock
• 10 onions, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 cans Italian tomatoes
• 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 1-2 teaspoons cayenne pepper
• 2 teaspoons black pepper
• 1/2 cup chopped parsley
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• Salt, to taste

Instructions:

1. If you’ve got time, cover beans with water and soak, covered, overnight. Otherwise, cover beans with water and bring to a boil for a few minutes, then bring the heat down to low and simmer for 30 minutes or so.

2. Drain (this helps cut down on any, uh, gas issues).

3. Cover again with water, stock, or a combination. Add ham hocks and bring heat back to medium.

4. Simmer for an hour or until beans are softened and meat is coming off the bones. Add water or stock as needed throughout the cooking process.

5. Remove ham hocks and set aside to cool.

6. Add onions, tomatoes (with juice), garlic, red pepper flakes, cayenne pepper, black pepper, parsley, oregano, and salt to the pot.

7. If desired, add sliced kielbasa sausage.

8. Remove meat from ham hocks, shred into small pieces, and add to the soup.

9. Continue to simmer until beans are very soft and tomatoes have broken down.

10. Add lemon juice.

11. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

12. Serve hot with crusty, rustic bread and a green salad on the side.

Nutritional Information (per serving):

• Calories: 125.2
• Fat Content: 8.2g
  • Saturated Fat Content: 2.7g
• Cholesterol Content: 18.7mg
• Sodium Content: 271.3mg
• Carbohydrate Content: 9.1g
  • Fiber Content: 2.3g
  • Sugar Content: 4.3g
• Protein Content: 5g

Enjoy this hearty and flavorful Spicy Ham and Bean Soup, perfect for cold winter nights or potluck gatherings!