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Instant Pot ham and beans in a bowl.

Instant Pot Ham and Beans

Old-fashioned Instant Pot Ham and Bean Soup combines the hearty flavors of a ham bone with the richness of dried white northern beans, onion, and simple seasonings.
Servings: 8 servings
Chef Alli
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Approx. Time Needed for Instant Pot to Pressurize: 15 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes

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Ingredients
 

  • 2 Tbs. olive oil, divided use
  • 4 carrots, diced
  • 1 large yellow onion, diced
  • 4 ribs celery, diced
  • 1 leftover ham bone with meat, may substitute ham shanks if a ham bone with meat isn't available
  • 6-8 cups nice, strong ham broth, I like to use a concentrated ham broth base, such as Better Than Bouillon to make my broth (you will find this product in the soup aisle at your grocer)
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 tsp. dried tarragon, may ubstitute 1 tsp. dried Italian seasoning instead (the tarragon is especially good in this recipe)
  • 1 lb. dry white beans, I used Great Northern, no need to soak the beans first
  • kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste (Be sure to taste the soup before you salt it; sometimes ham broth and ham can be very salty)
  • 1/4 - 1/3 cup heavy cream, as desired, for creaminess

Instructions
 

  • Using the saute setting on your Instant Pot, add 1 Tbs. of oil.
  • when the oil is hot add the carrots, onions, and celery, cooking until the veggies are softened, adding a bit of ham broth to the mixture, if needed, to keep them from sticking.
  • Place the ham bone (or ham shanks), with the broth, bay leaf, tarragon, oil and dry beans into the Instant Pot with the vegetables, making sure the Instant Pot isn't filled more two-thirds full. 
  • Lock the lid into place then making sure the valve is set to the sealing position; choose 35 minutes on high pressure, bringing the Instant Pot to full pressure.
  • When the timer sounds, use a 30 minute natural pressure release, followed by a quick release to remove any remaining pressure from the Instant Pot. This long natural release allows your beans to finish cooking from residual heat and to relax, making them the perfect tenderness.
  • Remove the ham bone and bay leaf from the prepared soup in the Instant Pot.
  • Pull away any ham still attached to the ham bone, adding it back into the soup.
  • Adjust the seasonings to taste. For added creaminess, stir in a bit of cream, as desired. Serve at once!

Nutrition

Calories: 199kcalCarbohydrates: 21gProtein: 6gFat: 11gSaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 24mgSodium: 675mgPotassium: 516mgFiber: 7gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 5385IUVitamin C: 16mgCalcium: 81mgIron: 2mg

Nutritional Disclaimer

Chef Alli is not a dietitian or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate.

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