Holiday Soup with Spiral Ham and Lima Beans

Ingredients

• 1 (16 ounce) package dried lima beans
• 2 quarts water
• 1 ham bone with meat
• 1 large onion, sliced
• 3 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 teaspoon hot pepper sauce (Optional)
• 1 teaspoon dry mustard
• ½ teaspoon salt

Step 1

Soak the lima beans in a large bowl, covering them with plenty of water. Let them sit for at least 8 hours or overnight to soften.

Step 2

Bring a pot of water to a boil along with the ham bone and an onion. Once it’s boiling, lower the heat, cover the pot, and let it simmer gently until the onion is soft—this should take about an hour.

Step 3

Drain and rinse the soaked beans, then add them to the pot with the ham bone. Stir in the brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, dry mustard, and a pinch of salt. Cover the pot again and let everything simmer for about 2 hours.

Step 4

After that, remove the lid and keep simmering until the beans are nice and tender, which usually takes another 30 minutes or so. Take out the ham bone, chop up the meat into bite-sized pieces, and toss it back into the soup. Give it a good stir, and it’s ready to enjoy!