Rinse the bean mix. Put the bean mix in a large bowl and cover with water. Soak 8 hours or overnight. Drain and rinse again in the morning. Put the bean mix in a large stock pot or dutch oven. Add a ham hock (bone) and cover with water. Bring to a boil and then reduce to simmer for approximately 3 to 3-1/2 hours until beans are soft. Add cubed ham (if using) onion, celery, and carrots. Salt and pepper to taste. Continue cooking for at least 30 minutes.
Remove ham hock and add any meat back to the soup.
Serve with a hearty bread or crackers.
Notes
Prep time includes 8 hours of soak time. You can use canned beans in lieu of dried beans. Add them when onion, celery, and carrots are added.Also, soup can be made in the crockpot (slow cooker). Add all of the ingredients except the cubed ham. Allow to cook on high 4 hours or low for 8 hours. Add the cubed ham and serve when hot.
This recipe was calculated using the exact brands and measurements I used to make this recipe. If you are following a strict diet please note changing anything will cause the nutritional info to change. My calculations are intended as a guide only.