Winters are all about food that gives you comfort. Soup is one of those comfort foods without which winter will be incomplete. It is thick and filling with a lot of flavor that tastes like ham and potato soup. It is also an excellent method to consume the leftover ham that you made during a holiday.
The recipe does not require anything fancy and is simple to make. Pure, potatoes, ham and a couple of veggies. Complete your homemade warm dinner in approximately 30 minutes, and all family members will like it.
Ham and Potato Soup Recipe for a Cozy Winter
People have various preferences as to whether they take their soups thick and cheesy or light and creamy, but this recipe can be done just the way you love it. So, what say we begin?
Ingredients For Ham and Potato Soup
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small yellow onion (diced, about ¾ cup)
- 1 medium carrot (peeled and diced into about ½ cup)
- 1 rib celery (diced (about ½ cup)
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
- 3 cups peeled and diced Yukon Gold potatoes (about 4 medium potatoes / 1¼ lbs before peeling)
- 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 2 cups cooked ham (diced or shredded)
- 1 ham bone or ham hock (it’s optional)
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard (optional)
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
To finish the soup
- 1 cup whole milk
- ½ cup heavy cream or half-and-half
- 1-2 tablespoons cornstarch (Whipped into the milk and cream)
- salt & pepper as per your taste
- ¾ cup shredded cheddar cheese
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How to Make Cheesy Ham and Potato Soup
It is a very simple soup to prepare. All you have to do is cook the vegetables and then add the broth and potatoes and sprinkle with milk, cheese, and ham. Therefore, it may be separated into the following simple steps:
The Veggies and Ham should be cooked
- Melt butter in a large pot and warm olive oil on a medium-high heat.
- Add sliced onion, carrot and celery. Stir-fry it in a little over 5 minutes and continue to cook it in another 5 to 7 minutes or until the vegetables begin to wilt.
- Add the garlic and fry, fry it about half a minute till it smells.
- Then, add flour. Simmer it and cook it for 1 min to get rid of the raw taste. This will assist in thickening the soup in the future.
Add Potatoes, Broth and Ham
- Add in the chicken broth and mix. Add the diced potatoes, cooked ham, dried thyme and Dijon mustard, in case you are using. In case you have a ham bone or a ham hock, add it to it now as well.
- Boil all your ingredients properly, and then simmer over a low heat.
- Allow the soup to simmer the soup between 15-20 minutes, or until the potatoes get soft when a fork is thrust into them.
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Make Thick and Creamy
- To make a smooth mixture, combine the milk and the cream with the cornstarch in a small bowl.
- Then, gradually add this to the soup, stirring continually. Cook the soup until it has increased in thickness and attained a creamier texture, i.e., another 3 to 5 minutes.
Season and add Cheese
- Add in the shredded cheddar cheese and stir it well until it melts.
- Then add salt and pepper, according to your liking.
Enjoy and Serve!
- Remove the ham bone (provided it has been used), and you have nothing to do but serve your soup.
- Put it in the bowls and devour it warm. You can top it with additional cheese, green onion, or herbs, though.
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Suggestions and Simple Substitutions For Potato and Ham Soup Recipe
Fancy making this a soup of your own? And a few easy tricks and substitutions to give you the right vitamin-packed flavor and texture:
Leftover Hamilton or fresh:
You may use leftover ham when there is one, or you may buy a small ham and cut it up in the store. Shredded, or cubed – either is good.
No ham bone? No Problem
So even without a ham bone, the soup will be delicious. However, in the case you do possess one, go ahead and hurl it in! It adds rich, smoky flavor to the broth.
Not got any Yukon Gold potatoes?
You may also use russet or red potatoes. Yukon Gold ensures that the soup is creamy and does not break apart, yet other varieties do the trick.
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Out of cream? You may use:
- Half-and-half
- Even more whole milk
- just plain Greek yogurt or sour cream with a tangy twist
Want some More Cheese?
You can add more cheddar to it or mix up some mozzarella or Swiss. Add it to the end, stirring until melted.
Increase the number of vegetables
Add peas, corn or green beans at will to give it some added color and nutrition. You may also add spinach at the end, it wilts fast.
Thicken or make it smooth
In order to make soup thicker, use a fork to mash some potatoes or add more cornstarch.
With even soup: blend a portion of the soup using a hand blender, then return the mixture.
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