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Ham Bone Soup

Ham Bone Soup
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Ham Bone Soup is a cozy and hearty recipe that transforms leftover ham bones into a rich, smoky broth filled with tender meat and chunky vegetables. This comforting and nourishing soup is easy to make, budget-friendly, and adaptable to your favorite ingredients, perfect for chilly evenings or simple soul-soothing meals.

Ingredients

Scale

Broth and Base

  • 1 ham bone with meat (about 2–3 pounds)
  • 8 cups water or low-sodium broth
  • 1 large onion, chopped
  • 2 medium carrots, chopped
  • 2 celery stalks, chopped
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 teaspoon black peppercorns

Vegetables

  • 3 medium potatoes, peeled and cubed

Garnish

  • Fresh parsley, chopped (to taste)

Instructions

  1. Prepare Your Ingredients: Gather your ham bone and chop all vegetables (onion, carrots, celery, garlic) into bite-sized pieces to ensure even cooking and balanced texture throughout the soup.
  2. Build the Broth: Place the ham bone in a large pot and cover it with 8 cups of water or broth. Add the chopped onions, carrots, celery, garlic, bay leaves, and black peppercorns. Bring everything to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer. Cook partially covered for 1.5 to 2 hours to extract deep, smoky flavor from the ham and meld the vegetables’ aromas.
  3. Remove the Ham Bone and Pick Off Meat: Carefully take out the ham bone once the broth is richly flavored. Use a fork or fingers to strip off all the meat, then chop it into small pieces and return it to the pot for tender, meaty bites.
  4. Add Potatoes and Simmer: Add peeled and cubed potatoes to the pot and simmer the soup until tender, about 20 minutes. The potatoes absorb the broth flavors and add comforting substance.
  5. Final Seasoning and Serve: Taste the soup and adjust seasoning by adding salt and pepper as preferred. Remove bay leaves before serving. Garnish with freshly chopped parsley for a burst of freshness and color.

Notes

  • Use a good quality ham bone for the best flavor and broth richness.
  • Simmer slowly and gently to create a deeply flavored, tender broth.
  • Skim excess fat from the surface during cooking for a cleaner broth.
  • Pick off excess meat early to keep it tender and juicy.
  • Customize vegetables and add grains or spices to your preference for variation.

Nutrition

Keywords: ham bone soup, leftover ham recipe, hearty soup, slow simmer soup, budget-friendly soup, comforting soup, gluten free soup

Find it online: https://recipesemilly.com/ham-bone-soup/