Simple Pinto Bean And Ham Soup

Total Time: 20 hrs 10 mins Preparation Time: 10 mins Cook Time: 20 hrs

Ingredients

• 1 ham bone, leftover from 13 lb country ham
• 12 quarts water
• 5 bay leaves
• 1 tablespoon celery seed
• 1 tablespoon mustard seeds
• 2 tablespoons red pepper flakes
• 1 onion, rough chopped
• 2 cups pinto beans, washed and picked over
• water, to cover beans

Recipe

• 1 place ham bone in a 12 quart soup pan.
• 2 add the water, bay leaves, celery seed, mustard seed, and chopped onion.
• 3 bring to a boil.
• 4 boil for about an hour, lower heat to a simmer.
• 5 add red pepper flakes.
• 6 cover and continue to simmer for an addition 17 hours.
• 7 skim any skum from top as simmering progresses.
• 8 meanwhile place pinto beans in a large pan and cover with water .
• 9 soak beans over night or at least 8 hours.
• 10 remove lid from ham broth.
• 11 add beans and enough water to bring back up to starting volume of liquid.
• 12 bring back to a boil.
• 13 simmer uncovered for 2 hours.
• 14 serve.