Chunky Bean Soup with Ham and Kale

Ingredients

• 1 teaspoon bouquet garni: thyme dried black
• 5 large carrots sliced into 1/2-inch rounds
• 1 rib celery halved
• 3 large garlic cloves smashed
• 1.5 pounds meaty ham hock 
• 4 cups kale leaves coarsely chopped
• 6 cups chicken stock see low-sodium
• 1.3 cups jacob's cattle beans drained
• 2 small onions coarsely chopped
• 6 servings salt and pepper freshly ground
• 2.5 quarts water 

Equipment

• pot
• slotted spoon

Directions

1. Put the beans in a large soup pot.
2. Add the ham hock, whole carrot, garlic, celery, whole onion, bouquet garni and water and bring to a boil. Cover partially and cook over moderate heat until the beans are just barely tender, about 1 1/2 hours.
3. Using a slotted spoon, discard the carrot, celery and onion.
4. Add the sliced carrots, chopped onion and stock; season with salt and pepper. Cover partially and simmer until the beans are tender, about 45 minutes.
5. Remove the hock and let cool slightly, then shred the meat and return to the soup.
6. Add the kale and cook until tender, 10 minutes. Discard the bouquet garni, season with salt and pepper; serve.