Ella Walter
Cooking navy beans and ham in a crock pot is a great way to make a hearty, budget-friendly meal. It's also an excellent way to use up leftover ham from a holiday dinner. The process is simple: start by soaking your dried navy beans overnight, or for a few hours with a quick-soak method. Then, add your beans, vegetables, broth, and ham to the crock pot. Cover with water or broth, and cook on low for 6-8 hours, or high for around 6 hours. For a creamier texture, you can blend or mash some of the beans. Season with salt and pepper to taste, as ham can be quite salty. This recipe is versatile and can be adapted with different vegetables, spices, and types of beans.
How to cook navy beans and ham in a crock pot
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Soaking beans | For the best texture and faster cooking, soak the beans overnight. If you forget, use the quick-soak method by boiling for a few minutes and letting them sit covered for 1-2 hours. |
| Slow cooker size | A 5-6 quart slow cooker is ideal to prevent overflowing. |
| Skipping the soak | Without soaking, beans take much longer to cook and may not soften properly. |
| Over-salting | Ham can release salt as it cooks, so it is recommended to season at the end. |
| Liquid | Beans absorb a lot of liquid while cooking. Chicken broth or water can be used. |
| Ingredients | Navy beans, ham, stock vegetables (onion, carrot, celery, garlic, bell pepper), bay leaf, thyme, smoked paprika, black pepper, salt. |
| Cooking time | Cover and cook on low for 8 hours or high for 6 hours, until the beans are soft and tender. |
| Creamy soup | For a creamier texture, blend 1/3 of the soup and stir it back into the crockpot. |
| Variations | Use bone broth, add other vegetables (potatoes, carrots, celery, tomatoes), add a splash of cream, or make it spicy with jalapeno or red pepper flakes. |
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Soak the beans overnight
Soaking the beans overnight is a great way to achieve the best texture and faster cooking. It is a simple process that involves placing dried navy beans in water and leaving them to soak for eight hours. You can also add two teaspoons of baking soda to the water. After the beans have soaked, they need to be drained and rinsed well before being added to the crockpot.
If you are short on time, there is a quick-soak method that can be used. This involves boiling the beans for a few minutes and then letting them sit covered for one or two hours. After soaking, the beans are ready to be added to the crockpot with the rest of the ingredients.
It is important to note that the beans will absorb a lot of liquid during cooking, so it is recommended to keep extra broth on hand to adjust the flavour as needed.
Skipping the soaking step will result in a longer cooking time and the beans may not soften properly. However, some recipes do suggest skipping the soaking step altogether, so it is ultimately up to personal preference.
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Prepare the ham
To prepare the ham, start by checking if you have any leftover ham from a previous meal, such as a holiday dinner or a special occasion like Christmas or Easter. Leftover ham is perfect for this recipe, and it can be added to the crockpot with the bone-in for extra flavour. If you don't have leftover ham, you can purchase a ham steak slice with or without the bone from the deli section of your local market or grocery store.
For the best flavour, use a cured, smoked ham variety. Other options include ham hock, ham bone, ham shank, or ham chunks. If you don't have ham, you can also use a smoked turkey leg or slices of bacon. If you want to add even more ham flavour to your dish, consider using ham seasoning. This can be added at the beginning of the cooking process, before adding salt as it contains sodium.
When preparing the ham for cooking, there is no need to slice or cut it before adding it to the crockpot. Simply place the ham in the centre of the crockpot, and cover with water or broth. If using a bone-in ham, you can also add the leftover juice and fat from the cooked ham for extra flavour.
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Add vegetables
When it comes to adding vegetables to your navy beans and ham crockpot meal, there are several options to choose from. Firstly, it is important to note that the choice of vegetables can vary depending on your personal preferences and what is available to you.
A classic combination of vegetables used in many recipes is a mirepoix, which typically includes onions, carrots, and celery. These vegetables are chopped into small pieces and added to the crockpot with the beans. You can also add garlic to this mixture for additional flavour. If you want to enhance the flavour even more, consider sautéing these vegetables before adding them to the crockpot.
Other vegetables that can be added to the crockpot include bell peppers, mushrooms, diced tomatoes, Swiss chard, and potatoes. Potatoes, in particular, can be useful if you want to thicken the soup. If you're looking for a spicy kick, you can also add a diced jalapeño or a pinch of red pepper flakes.
When adding vegetables to your crockpot, it's important to ensure that they are cut into similar-sized pieces to promote even cooking. Additionally, keep in mind that the cooking time may vary depending on the type and amount of vegetables added. It is usually recommended to cook the beans and ham for around 6 to 8 hours, but you may need to adjust this timing based on the vegetables you choose to include.
Remember to taste your dish towards the end of the cooking process and adjust the seasoning as needed. This is also a good opportunity to add any fresh herbs you may want to include, such as thyme or parsley. By following these steps and choosing your desired vegetables, you can create a delicious and hearty navy bean and ham crockpot meal.
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Seasoning
Secondly, the type of bean you use can impact the overall flavour of the dish. Navy beans are known for being the softest and creamiest option when cooked in a slow cooker, but you can also use Great Northern beans, cannellini beans, pinto beans, or small white beans.
Thirdly, vegetables and herbs can be added for extra flavour. Onions, carrots, celery, garlic, and bell peppers are commonly used, along with herbs like thyme, parsley, and bay leaves. If you want to add a spicy kick, include a diced jalapeno or a pinch of red pepper flakes.
Finally, salt and pepper can be used for seasoning, but it is important to taste the dish before adding salt as the ham and chicken broth may already provide enough saltiness to the pot. Similarly, cured meats are often salty, so it is best to season the navy beans after they have cooked.
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Cooking time
The cooking time for navy beans and ham in a crock pot depends on the consistency you are looking for. If you want your beans to be creamy, you should cook them for longer. If you prefer your beans to be whole and firm, then you should cook them for less time.
It is also important to note that different crock pots may produce different results, even if they are of the same size and brand. Therefore, it is recommended to begin checking the beans after 5 hours of cooking, and then every 30 minutes until they are cooked to your desired level of doneness.
In general, beans will finish cooking in a crock pot within 6 to 8 hours. However, some recipes suggest cooking the beans on high for 6 hours or low for 8 to 10 hours. This longer cooking time on low heat allows for a slower cooking process, resulting in tender, creamy beans with a ton of flavor.
If you are in a hurry, you can use an Instant Pot. Cook the soaked beans with all the ingredients on high pressure for 35 minutes, and then perform a natural release.
Additionally, the type of bean you use can impact the cooking time. For example, Great Northern beans are slightly larger than navy beans and cook a little faster while maintaining their shape better.
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Frequently asked questions
Rinse the beans, removing any debris, and soak them overnight with 2 teaspoons of baking soda. Drain and rinse the beans again, then add them to your crock pot. Chop up some onions, celery, and garlic, and throw those in too, along with some ham, a bay leaf, thyme, smoked paprika, black pepper, and salt. Finally, stir in some vegetable broth, cover, and cook on low for 8 hours or high for 6 hours.
You can use leftover ham, or ham hock, a meaty ham bone, ham shank, or ham steak.
You can skip the ham and add smoked paprika for depth of flavor.
To make the soup creamier, remove about 1/3 of it and blend it with an immersion blender or regular blender until smooth, then stir it back into the crock pot. You can also cook the beans for longer, or remove and mash half of them with a potato masher.
