Food Wishes Ham Potato Soup

DELICIOUS HAM AND POTATO SOUP

Steps:

• Combine the potatoes, celery, onion, ham and water in a stockpot. Bring to a boil, then cook over medium heat until potatoes are tender, about 10 to 15 minutes. Stir in the chicken bouillon, salt and pepper.
• In a separate saucepan, melt butter over medium-low heat. Whisk in flour with a fork, and cook, stirring constantly until thick, about 1 minute. Slowly stir in milk as not to allow lumps to form until all of the milk has been added. Continue stirring over medium-low heat until thick, 4 to 5 minutes.
• Stir the milk mixture into the stockpot, and cook soup until heated through. Serve immediately.

HEALTHIER DELICIOUS HAM AND POTATO SOUP

Steps:

• Combine potatoes, carrots, green beans, celery, onion, ham, and water in a stockpot. Bring to a boil and cook over medium heat until potatoes are tender, 10 to 15 minutes. Stir in chicken bouillon and pepper.
• Melt butter in a separate saucepan over medium-low heat. Whisk in flour with a with fork and cook, stirring constantly, until thick, about 1 minute. Slowly stir in milk so lumps do not form until all of the milk has been added. Continue stirring until thick, 4 to 5 minutes.
• Pour the milk mixture into stockpot and cook soup until heated through, about 5 minutes. Serve immediately.

CHEF JOHN'S HAM AND POTATO SOUP

Steps:

• Melt butter in a stockpot over medium heat until golden brown. Stir in carrot, celery, onion, ham, and garlic; cook and stir for 5-6 minutes, until the vegetables soften and the onions are translucent.
• Stir in flour; cook for about 3 minutes. Stir in chicken broth, 1 cup at a time. Add water and stir to combine. Turn the heat to high and bring to a simmer. Simmer on medium-low for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Taste the soup for salt and add more if necessary. Stir in potatoes; cook for 15 minutes, until potatoes are tender. Skim fat if desired.
• With a potato masher, mash the soup a few times, leaving plenty of whole chunks of potato. Season with salt and pepper to taste, add cayenne if desired, and add cream. Stir to combine and heat through. Garnish with fresh chives.

CHEESY HAM 'N' POTATO SOUP

Steps:

• In a saucepan, bring potatoes and water to a boil. Cover and cook for 10-15 minutes or until tender. Drain, reserving 1 cup cooking liquid; set potatoes and liquid aside., In a large saucepan, saute ham and onion in butter until onion is tender. Stir in the flour and pepper until smooth; gradually add milk and reserved cooking liquid. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Reduce heat to low. Add the cheese, broccoli and reserved potatoes; cook and stir until cheese is melted and soup is heated through.

HOLIDAY HAM AND POTATO CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Heat butter in a pot over medium heat. Add onions and sauté with a pinch of salt until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add flour and cook, stirring, just to take off that starchy, raw edge, about 2 minutes. Pour in heavy cream and whisk to combine. Whisk in milk. Cook, stirring, over medium-high heat until it just starts to simmer and thicken up. Add 1 teaspoon salt, pepper, and cayenne. Grate in nutmeg.
• Turn off heat. Stir in Worcestershire and fresh thyme leaves. Reserve until needed.
• Cover the bottom of a deep 10x15-inch casserole dish with about 25% of the reserved sauce. Add a layer of sliced potatoes, seasoning the tops with some of the remaining salt as desired; ladle over 1/3 of the sauce and sprinkle over 1/3 of the grated Cheddar cheese. Layer in ½ of the sliced ham.
• Place another layer of sliced potatoes on top and season with salt. Ladle over ½ of the remaining sauce; repeat layering with Cheddar cheese and ham.
• Place last layer of potatoes on top. Ladle over remaining sauce and spread out with a spatula. Sprinkle over remaining Cheddar cheese.
• Bake uncovered in the preheated oven until browned, bubbling, and potatoes are very tender, about 1 ½ hours. Let cool for 15 to 20 minutes before serving.