Ham Kale White Bean Soup (Printable)

A hearty blend of ham, white beans, and kale simmered to tender perfection.

# What You Need:

→ Meats

01 - 1 lb 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 & Legumes

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

→ Liquids

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

→ Herbs & Spices

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

→ Oils

15 - 2 tbsp olive oil

# Directions:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large soup pot over medium heat. Add diced onion, sliced carrots, and celery. Cook for 5-6 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, dried thyme, black pepper, and smoked paprika if using. Bring to a boil.
05 - Reduce heat to a simmer, cover the pot, and cook for 20 minutes.
06 - Add chopped kale and simmer uncovered for 8-10 minutes until kale is tender and flavors meld.
07 - Taste and adjust seasoning with salt as needed. Remove bay leaf before serving.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It's naturally gluten-free and dairy-free, so you don't have to apologize for what's in the pot.
  • One pot, minimal chopping, and you've got a meal that feels restaurant-worthy but tastes like home.
  • Leftovers taste even better the next day when the flavors have really gotten to know each other.
02 -
  • Don't skip rinsing the canned beans—that starchy liquid clouds your broth and makes the soup feel less bright and fresh than it should.
  • If your ham is already very salty, start with half the amount of added salt and taste as you go, because you can always add more but you can't take it back.
03 -
  • Cut your vegetables roughly the same size so they cook evenly, and don't bother with a food processor for the onion, carrots, and celery—hand chopping takes two extra minutes and gives you a much better texture.
  • Use a wooden spoon and stir gently through the whole process, because it somehow makes you more present and the soup seems to know it's being paid attention to.
Go Back