Hot Ham Soup with Vegetables and Cream Recipe
A comforting and hearty hot ham soup filled with tender diced ham, fresh vegetables, and a rich broth, perfect for warming up on chilly days. This easy stovetop recipe combines simple ingredients into a creamy, flavorful soup garnished with fresh parsley and served ideally with warm bread or biscuits.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 2 cups cooked ham, diced
- 2 carrots, sliced
- 2 celery stalks, diced
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 3–4 medium potatoes, diced
- 6 cups chicken or vegetable broth
- 1 bay leaf
- Salt, to taste
- Pepper, to taste
- 1 tbsp olive oil or butter
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ tsp dried thyme
- A splash of cream
- Corn (amount as desired)
- Peas (amount as desired)
- Spinach (amount as desired)
- Fresh parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Prepare Ingredients: Chop the onions, carrots, celery, potatoes, and ham into even pieces to ensure even cooking.
- Sauté Vegetables: Heat the olive oil or butter in a large pot over medium heat until lightly sizzling. Add the chopped onions, carrots, and celery. Cook for 5–7 minutes until the vegetables soften and develop a sweet aroma.
- Add Garlic and Ham: Stir in the minced garlic and diced ham, cooking for about one minute to release their flavors and combine well.
- Add Broth and Seasonings: Pour in the chicken or vegetable broth, add the bay leaf, dried thyme, and diced potatoes. Stir everything together to combine.
- Simmer Soup: Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to low. Cover and let it simmer gently for 20–25 minutes until the potatoes are tender.
- Add Additional Veggies and Season: Add corn, peas, and spinach to the pot according to your preference. Season with salt and pepper to taste. If desired, add a splash of cream to enrich the soup.
- Finish and Rest: Remove the bay leaf from the soup and let it rest for a minute to allow the flavors to meld.
- Serve: Ladle the hot soup into bowls and garnish with fresh parsley. Serve with warm bread or biscuits for a complete comforting meal.
Notes
- Feel free to use either chicken or vegetable broth depending on your dietary preference.
- Add frozen or fresh corn, peas, and spinach according to taste and quantity preference.
- A splash of cream is optional but adds a lovely richness to the soup.
- Leftover ham makes this soup a perfect way to use up cooked ham.
- Adjust seasoning at the end after simmering to ensure balanced flavor.
- This soup freezes well, store in airtight containers for up to 3 months.
Keywords: hot ham soup, ham and potato soup, hearty soup, easy stovetop soup, comforting winter soup
