Description
This Traditional Upstate Pennsylvania Bean Soup is a hearty and comforting dish with deep roots in Pennsylvania Dutch and Appalachian cuisine. Made with simple pantry staples like navy beans, ham, and aromatic vegetables, this slow-simmered soup is perfect for cold days and family gatherings. Serve it with crusty bread for an authentic taste of Pennsylvania tradition.
Ingredients
• 1 lb dried navy beans (or Great Northern beans), rinsed and soaked overnight
• 1 ham hock or 1 ½ cups diced ham
• 1 small onion, diced
• 2 carrots, diced
• 2 celery stalks, diced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 6 cups water or chicken broth
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 tsp salt (adjust to taste)
• ½ tsp black pepper
• ½ tsp dried thyme
• ¼ tsp smoked paprika (optional, for depth)
• 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar (for brightness)
• Chopped fresh parsley (for garnish)
Instructions
1. Soak the beans: Rinse and soak dried beans overnight in a large bowl of water. Drain before cooking.
2. Sauté the aromatics: In a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat, sauté onion, carrots, and celery until softened (about 5 minutes). Add garlic and cook for another minute.
3. Add beans and broth: Pour in soaked beans, ham hock (or diced ham), water or chicken broth, bay leaf, thyme, salt, pepper, and paprika (if using). Stir well.
4. Simmer: Bring the soup to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Cover and let it simmer for 1.5–2 hours, stirring occasionally, until beans are tender.
5. Remove the ham hock: If using a ham hock, remove it from the pot, shred the meat, and return it to the soup.
6. Final seasoning: Stir in apple cider vinegar and adjust salt and pepper to taste. Remove bay leaf.
7. Serve: Ladle into bowls, garnish with fresh parsley, and serve hot with cornbread or crusty bread.
Notes
• No time to soak beans? Use canned navy beans (3 cans, drained and rinsed) and reduce cooking time to about 30 minutes.
• For a vegetarian version, omit ham and use vegetable broth, adding smoked paprika for depth.
• This soup tastes even better the next day as flavors meld.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1.5–2 hours
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: ~250
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 480mg
- Fat: 5g
- Saturated Fat: 1.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3.5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 9g
- Protein: 18g
- Cholesterol: 20mg
Keywords: Pennsylvania bean soup, navy bean soup, traditional Appalachian recipe, Dutch country soup, ham and bean soup