Ham Cannellini and Wheat Berry Soup

I prefer to buy bone-in and non spiral-sliced ham s so I can use the leftover ham bone to make flavorful stock which can then be used to make tasty soups and stews.  This particular recipe takes advantage of leftover ham, stock made from the bone, a few freezer staples, and some canned beans - you literally just toss everything in a stockpot and heat it up.  Super hearty, super flavorful, and super easy.  The wheat berries are chewy and fun to eat - if you can't find cooked wheat berries in the freezer section of your grocery store, feel free to cook your own (directions below) or substitute cooked pasta or rice.

Ham White Bean and Wheat Berry Soup

serves 10

Printable Recipe

Ingredients

To make the soup:

• 1 batch of ha

• ham stock (recipe below)

• 2 cups frozen corn kernels

• 16 ounce bag frozen peas and carrots

• 16 ounce bag frozen wheat berries (see note below)

• 4 cups diced ham

• 30 ounces canned cannellini beans, rinsed and drained

• salt and pepper to taste

• chopped fresh parsley for garnish

Directions

1. Place the stock, veggies, wheat berries, and ham in a large stock pot and heat through.  

2. Gently stir in the beans; taste and adjust seasoning if necessary.  

3. Serve with lots of fresh chopped parsley.

Note

• To cook wheat berries - simply boil them in salted water or chicken stock for 45-60 minutes until they're soft but chewy.

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Ham Stock

Ingredients

• one ham bone

• 10-12 cups cold water

• 1 medium onion cut into quarters (don't worry about peeling it)

• 4 cloves of smashed garlic (again, no need to peel)

• 2 bay leaves

• 1 tablespoon dried parsley (or a bunch of fresh stems)

Directions

1. Place everything together in a large stock pot and bring to a boil.  

2. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 60-90 minutes.  

3. Strain all the solids from the stock; discard.  

4. Cool and freeze stock for use later or proceed with following recipe.

Hot Ham and Cheese Sandwiches with Onion Butter

Here's a crowd-pleasing, drippy, cheesy, delicious hot sandwich recipe for you to try.  I brought a huge batch to a function recently and they were very well received - Enjoy!

Hot Ham and Cheese Sandwiches with Onion Butter

makes 8 kaiser rolls, 16 dinner rolls, or 1 loaf of french bread

Printable Recipe

Ingredients

• 8 large or 16 small rolls (or a long loaf of french bread)

• 1/2 pound shaved ham (excellent quality please)

• 1/2 pound your favorite sliced cheese (any cheese that will melt well)

Onion Butter: 

• 8 tablespoons salted butter (yes, salted)

• 1/2 cup very finely minced onion

• 3 tablespoons prepared mustard (Dijon or spicy brown)

• 1 teaspoon poppy seeds

• 1 teaspoon freshly squeezed lemon juice

Directions

1. To make the onion butter, combine ingredients in a small sauce pan and heat gently just until the butter is melted and all the ingredients are well combined; cool to a spreadable consistency.

2. To prepare sandwiches, place roll bottoms, cut side up on a sheet pan.

3. Spread 1/2 the onion butter evenly onto the halves, top with 1/2 the cheese, next add all the ham, now add remaining cheese, and end with the rest of the onion butter.

4. Replace roll tops, cover pan with foil, and heat in a 300F oven for 10-15 minutes until the sandwiches are heated through and the cheese melts.

Note

• Sandwiches can also be wrapped in foil and placed in a slow cooker on high heat until cheese melts, about an hour.