Ham Lima Bean Soup (Print Version)

Tender ham and creamy lima beans meld with hearty vegetables in a warm, savory dish perfect for cool days.

# Ingredient List:

→ Meats

01 - 2 cups cooked ham, diced

→ Beans

02 - 2 cups dried lima beans, soaked overnight and drained

→ Vegetables

03 - 1 large onion, diced
04 - 2 medium carrots, diced
05 - 2 celery stalks, diced
06 - 3 garlic cloves, minced

→ Liquids

07 - 8 cups low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth
08 - 1 bay leaf

→ Seasonings

09 - 1 teaspoon dried thyme
10 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
11 - Salt to taste

→ Garnish

12 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped

# Steps:

01 - Rinse and drain the soaked lima beans thoroughly.
02 - Heat oil in a large soup pot over medium heat. Add diced onion, carrots, and celery; sauté for 5 minutes until softened.
03 - Stir in minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
04 - Add ham, lima beans, broth, bay leaf, thyme, and black pepper. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat.
05 - Reduce heat to low and simmer uncovered for 1 hour 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until beans are tender.
06 - Remove bay leaf. Taste and adjust salt as needed.
07 - Ladle soup into bowls and garnish with fresh parsley. Serve hot.

# Helpful Hints:

01 -
  • It tastes like home without requiring you to be a fancy cook—just honest flavors that warm you from the inside out.
  • One pot does all the work while you go about your day, making it perfect for busy weeknights or lazy weekends.
  • The beans break down slightly into the broth, creating natural creaminess without any cream at all.
02 -
  • Don't skip soaking the beans overnight—I once tried cooking unsoaked lima beans and they stayed hard while everything else was done, teaching me a lesson I never forgot.
  • If your soup seems thin after an hour, that's actually perfect; the beans release starch and thicken it naturally as they cook, so resist the urge to add cornstarch or flour.
03 -
  • If you forget to soak your beans overnight, use the quick-soak method: bring them to a boil for 2 minutes, let them sit for an hour, then drain and proceed—it won't be quite the same but it works.
  • A splash of apple cider vinegar added at the very end brightens everything and makes people ask what that subtle tang is.
Go Back