Add reserved ham bone, drained beans, and strained broth ... Season to taste with salt. Ladle soup evenly into individual bowls; sprinkle with additional black pepper and cheese.

The soup also includes plenty of ham which cooks low and slow with the beans until it's literally falling apart. (If you're ...

Drain the soaked beans and discard the water. Place the beans, ham hocks, chicken broth, and bay leaf in a soup pot; do not add salt at this stage. Bring to a boil and simmer for about 1 hour ...