Here’s a warming, smoky, and filling soup that feels like a hug in a bowl — perfect for chilly days or when you need a taste of true Hungarian comfort.
🇭🇺 Hungarian Ham and Bean Soup (Sonkás Bableves)
This rustic soup combines smoked ham hocks or leftover Easter ham, beans, paprika, and vegetables. It’s a close cousin to Hungarian Jókai bableves, but here the ham plays the starring role.
🍽 Servings: 6–8
⏱ Prep Time: 20 min | Cook Time: 2–2½ hrs
🧾 Ingredients
- 500 g (1 lb) dried beans (pinto, kidney, or white beans)
- 1–1.2 kg (2½–3 lbs) smoked ham hock or leftover bone-in ham
- 2–3 tbsp lard or vegetable oil
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1–2 tbsp sweet Hungarian paprika
- 2 medium carrots, sliced
- 1 medium parsnip, sliced
- 1 medium celeriac (celery root), peeled & cubed (optional)
- 1 bay leaf
- Salt & freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- ½ tsp caraway seeds (optional but traditional)
- 2–3 medium potatoes, cubed
- ½ cup sour cream (for serving)
- 1 tbsp flour (optional, for thickening)
- 1–2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley