Description
This hearty Ham Soup is a comforting and flavorful dish perfect for chilly days. It features tender diced ham combined with a medley of fresh vegetables like carrots, celery, and potatoes simmered in a savory chicken broth, finished with a touch of creamy heavy cream and fresh parsley for a rich, warming meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Soup Base
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 cups ham, diced
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 2 cups water
Vegetables & Seasonings
- 2 large carrots, sliced
- 2 celery stalks, chopped
- 2 medium potatoes, cubed
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 bay leaf
Finishing Touches
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 2 tablespoons chopped parsley
Instructions
- Heat the oil: Heat the olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat.
- Sauté onions: Add the chopped onion to the pot and sauté it until it becomes soft and translucent, about 5 minutes.
- Add garlic: Stir in the minced garlic and cook for another 1 minute, making sure the garlic does not burn.
- Cook ham: Add the diced ham to the pot and stir it in with the onions and garlic.
- Brown ham: Let the ham cook for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it starts to brown slightly.
- Add liquids: Pour in the chicken broth and water, stirring to combine everything.
- Add vegetables: Add the sliced carrots, chopped celery, and cubed potatoes to the pot.
- Season soup: Sprinkle in the dried thyme, black pepper, and salt.
- Add bay leaf: Drop the bay leaf into the pot and stir gently.
- Bring to boil: Bring the soup to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce the heat to low to let it simmer.
- Simmer soup: Cover the pot and simmer for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the vegetables are tender.
- Remove bay leaf: Once the vegetables are tender, remove the pot from the heat and discard the bay leaf.
- Add cream: Stir in the heavy cream until the soup becomes creamy and well-mixed.
- Adjust seasoning: Taste the soup and adjust the seasoning with more salt or pepper if desired.
- Add parsley: Sprinkle the chopped parsley into the soup and stir it in just before serving.
- Serve: Serve the soup hot, with some crusty bread on the side if desired.
Notes
- For a thicker soup, mash some of the potatoes before serving.
- Substitute heavy cream with half-and-half for a lighter option.
- Add other vegetables like peas or corn according to preference.
- Leftover ham can be frozen and used later for this recipe or others.
- Adjust the seasoning gradually to suit your taste preferences.
