Ham and Green Bean Soup - Another Pennsylvania Dutch Favorite

With Pennsylvania Dutch country flavors this ham and green bean soup recipe is easy to make and great for a bean harvest or leftover ham.

One of my favorite things about visiting my husband's family was enjoying Pennsylvania Dutch cuisine. My mother-in-law was a great cook and she made all kinds of great dishes from her Italian heritage to her own creations and a few delicious Pennsylvania Dutch staples like Chicken Pot Pie.

Making Ham and Green Bean Soup

So once again, my daughter brings home a nice bag of fresh from the farm green beans and I thought why not make ham and green bean soup. This easy one-pot meal is warm and hearty and easy to make.

Green Beans or String Beans?

Sometimes you will see a reference to this same dish called Ham and String Bean Soup. For me, there is no difference between green beans and string beans. In fact, you could use just about any kind of green bean in this dish, even frozen.

Also, I used ham steak for convenience but many people use ham hocks or shanks with a bone that cooks down and adds flavor to the soup. If you use a ham hock for example you will want to cook it on low heat for several hours. Also, there may not be as much meat from it as a couple of ham steaks but the choice is yours.

This yummy soup also contains potatoes making it a complete meal with protein, vegetables and a starch.

The PA Dutch Key Ingredient

The one particular ingredient that makes me think of Pennsylvania Dutch is the addition of cider vinegar. Some people just place it on the table to add in as much as they want while eating. However, I added it directly to the pot. It gives the soup a nice tangy flavor that's unique and delicious.

Finally, this recipe uses beef broth but you could easily use chicken broth, vegetable broth, or just water.

A warm healthy and hearty meal for the whole family all in one pot.

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