From Simply Recipes - there's another recipe on that site for Potato Soup With Ham and Leeks - add some leeks to this!
Note: You can make this soup using leftover ham and a ham bone or a meaty ham shank. If you use a ham bone, you'll add the chopped ham at the end of cooking. If you use a ham shank, you'll need to remove it after the soup cooks, cut away the meat, chop it, and add it back into the soup.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 1/2 cups chopped onion
- 3/4 cup chopped parsnips or carrots
- 3/4 cup chopped celery
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 meaty ham bone from a ham, or a meaty ham shank (see recipe note)
- 6 cups low-sodium chicken stock
- 2 bay leaves
- 2 sprigs thyme
- 2 pounds Russet potatoes, peeled and cut into 3/4-inch cubes
- 1 1/2 cups cubed ham (if using a ham bone), 3/4-inch dice
- 1/2 teaspoon ground pepper
- 1/4 cup whipping cream
- Salt to taste
What To Do With Them...
- Cook the vegetables in olive oil: Heat olive oil in a large, thick-bottomed pot or Dutch oven on medium high heat.
- Add the onions, parsnips or carrots, celery, and sauté for 7 to 8 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for a minute more.
- Add the ham bone or shank, stock, bay leaves, and thyme: Add the ham bone or ham shank to the pot. Add 6 cups of stock. Add bay leaves and thyme. Bring to a boil, lower the heat to maintain a simmer. Cover and simmer for 45 minutes.
- Add the potatoes: Add the potatoes and simmer for 15 more minutes, until they are cooked through. Remove ham bone or shank, purée half the soup
- Remove the ham bone or ham shank from the soup. Purée half of the soup so that some of the potatoes get puréed to give the soup body, and there are still whole chunks of potatoes for texture.
- Add chopped ham: If using a ham shank, cut away the meat and chop into 3/4-inch cubes. Add the chopped ham and black pepper to the soup.
- Stir in the cream: Taste for salt and pepper and add more if needed.