Swine & Sea — Tasso Ham Bean and Cabbage Soup — French Creole Recipe

Tasso Ham Bean and Cabbage Soup

Continuing with Fall soups, this Tasso Ham Bean Cabbage soup brings together all of the Fall and Winter vegetables to create a hearty dish that's great to have on hand. Traditionally from the Southwest of France, this soup uses a smoked ham hock, but I like to introduce Tasso ham to give it a bit more bite. It was originally a peasant meal and will remind you of a refined ham and bean soup.

Cooked with
If you want this to taste like the version I’m writing about, start here. This is the backbone.
View Tasso Ham
Tasso Ham

Recipe

  • 8 oz.

    dried Haricots Tarbais or navy beans

  • ½ head

    cabbage , rough chopped

  • 3 Tbsp.

    duck fat

  • 2

    garlic cloves , peeled and smashed

  • 2

    large carrots , peeled and cubed

  • 1

    celery stalk , rough chopped

  • 1

    large turnip , peeled and cubed

  • 1

    leek , cut into 1/2" rounds

  • 1 lb.

    Tasso Ham

  • 3

    russet potatoes , peeled and cubed

  • 1 tsp.

    cayenne pepper

  • 6 cups

    pork broth
    Step 1

  • The night before add the dried beans to a bowl and cover with water, allow them to soak for at least 12 hours.

    • Step 2

  • The day of, drain the beans and set aside.

    • Step 3

  • Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Add the cabbage to the pot. Allow to blanch for 3 minutes. Drain the cabbage into a colander and pass under cold water. Set aside.

    • Step 4

  • Heat the duck fat in a Dutch oven over medium high heat. Add the garlic, celery, carrots, turnip and leek. Allow to cook until the leek becomes translucent, approximately 7 minutes.

    • Step 5

  • Add the Tasso ham, beans and pork broth to the pot. Bring to a boil.

    • Step 6

  • Lower the heat to a simmer and allow the soup to simmer for 1 hour.

    • Step 7

  • Add the cabbage to the Dutch oven and allow to simmer for another 30 minutes.

    • Step 8

  • Add the russet potatoes and allow to simmer for another 30 minutes.

    • Step 9

  • Remove the Tasso ham from the Dutch oven and then rough chop and add back to the soup.

    • Step 10

  • Add the cayenne pepper. Allow the soup to simmer until the beans begin to become tender and start to break down.

    • Step 11

  • Season with salt and pepper.