Description
Comforting ham and potato soup brings hearty warmth to kitchen tables with its creamy blend of savory ingredients. Rich chunks of smoky ham and tender potatoes create a satisfying meal you’ll crave on chilly evenings.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat:
- 1 pound (454 grams) smoked ham, cut into small pieces
Vegetables:
- 2.5 pounds (1.13 kilograms) Russet potatoes, peeled & cut into 1 pieces
- 1 large carrot, peeled & chopped
- 2 sticks celery, chopped finely
- 1/2 medium onion, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
Liquids and Seasonings:
- 4 cups (960 milliliters) chicken broth
- 2 cups (480 milliliters) water
- 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) olive oil
- 1/4 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Salt & pepper to taste
Instructions
- Sauté diced onions, carrots, and celery in olive oil over medium heat until vegetables become translucent and softened, approximately 5-6 minutes.
- Introduce minced garlic and Italian seasoning to the vegetable mixture, stirring continuously for 60 seconds to release aromatic flavors.
- Add cubed ham, diced potatoes, chicken broth, and water to the pot, ensuring ingredients are evenly distributed.
- Increase heat to high and bring the liquid to a rolling boil, then immediately reduce temperature to low, allowing the soup to simmer gently.
- Cover and let the soup cook for 18-22 minutes, periodically checking potato tenderness with a fork.
- Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper, ensuring balanced flavor profile.
- For a luxurious texture, use an immersion blender to partially puree some soup components, creating a creamy yet chunky consistency.
- Ladle the steaming soup into serving bowls, garnishing with fresh herbs or additional ham if desired, and serve immediately while hot.
Notes
- Customize heat levels by adjusting the amount of seasoning to suit personal spice preferences.
- Use lean ham or turkey ham for a lighter, lower-fat version of the soup that still maintains rich flavor.
- Consider roasting vegetables beforehand to enhance their natural sweetness and add deeper complexity to the soup’s overall taste profile.
- Swap chicken broth with vegetable broth to create a vegetarian-friendly alternative, using plant-based protein like tofu or meat substitutes as a ham replacement.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 207 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 810 mg
- Fat: 6 g
- Saturated Fat: 1.2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4.2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 27 g
- Fiber: 3.5 g
- Protein: 13 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg