It’s June and I am posting a ham and potato soup recipe!! Well yes, it is so cold today - windy, rainy, and miserable and it has been like this for quite some days now. Pretty swiftly after we’ve had proper summer weather with 29C (85F) to 14C (55F) comfort delicious food like this soup recipe is needed.
This potato soup it’s one of those soups that I could have again and again no matter what the season or time of the day is. It is truly and utterly delicious.
This potato soup with ham hock is a truly hearty one and hugs my soul every time I have it. It contains my favorite ingredients, potatoes, ham hock, peppers...oh, I so enjoy it! This soup will make a beautiful lunch or dinner and it can be prepared in advance. It can be stored in the fridge for a maximum of 2 days.
Gosh, it’s been some time since I have made this soup. This is for this very reason - I cannot find a good ham hock, the real whole ham hock, you know? It is good I can find the shredded one, ready-cooked, it is good too but not quite the same.
This soup is packed with veggies and you will find it very easy to make. I could have this for the rest of 2019 - it is that delicious!
Here are some soup recipes to try that will make come back and visit. You will just want to make it again and again. What do you think of Instant Pot Bean Soup? What about this yummy, yummy Broccoli and Stilton Cheese Soup or this gorgeous Fish Soup?
Variations to this soup
• I like adding loads of vegetables to my soups in general. If you want to reduce the amount of vegetables feel free to add less. Just keep it as a leek and potato base, keep the carrot and the peas. Increase the amount of potatoes by adding 2-3 extra potatoes up to 300g.
• The ham hock can be replaced by a good chunk of smoked or unsmoked gammon (approx 1 lb or 450-500g). I only use smoked if it’s properly smoked rather than containing smoked flavors/additives.
• Potato types to use: Of course, this will differ and the names of the potatoes will be different depending on where in the world you are. The mid-starchy ones are ideal to use in this soup as you do want to mess around a little with the thickness of the soup. You could even mix the types, some good to fall apart. A mix of floury and waxy potatoes would be ideal 😉 just to make it a little more complicated. Ha ha!
Australia: Desiree or Coliban types or probably the best would be Kipfler
United States: Russet floury type vs red potato the waxy type.
United Kingdom: Maris Piper and King Edward are the brilliant ones for baking and mashing, they fall apart easily versus the waxy types such as Charlotte or Anya.
Tip: if the potatoes you have used in your soup did not break slightly I recommend you smash some slightly. The difference is made by what type of potatoes you use. I use those that are best to mash like Russet.
Recipe FAQs
Just leave all the meat out, it works very well with tofu or beans, and it is still delicious!
Any meat will work with this soup. Preferably add something with a hint of smoke like smoked chicken, sausages, or beef. That will add that delicious smoky flavor. Use your BBQ to smoke any cut.
I had some smoked pork ribs and bought some ready-bought pulled ham hock so I had to make this beautiful soup.
If smoky isn't an option just go for any meat you like, tofu, or beans.
Are you ready? Let’s get cooking!!
Did you make this delicious potato and ham hock soup?
Please do let me know how you liked it, did you give it any twist by using some different ingredients? If yes, what were these and how did it turn out for you?
If you liked it, made it, or just got inspired by this recipe, please leave a comment below or why not share a picture on Instagram with the hashtag #ramonascuisine.
I would really love to see your dish!
Potato soup with ham hock and petit pois (garden peas)
Equipment
- 1 pot
- 1 chopping board
- knife
Ingredients
- 2 l stock (8½ cups) I used vegetable but water is as good
- 200 g pork ribs (7 oz) I used smoked
- 400 g ham hock (70 oz) ready cooked - pulled
- 2 onions
- 1 larger carrot
- 2 celery sticks
- 4 potatoes large organic approx 500g
- 2 Turkish peppers see Recipe Notes for more info on these
- 100 g fresh garden peas (3.5 oz)
- ½ courgette zucchini
- ½ medium leek I use the green end
- 2 cloves of garlic
- 2 bay leaves
- 4 tablespoon Fresh herbs I have used parsley and dill
- 2 teaspoon salt
- ⅓ teaspoon black pepper or less
Instructions
- Place a larger pot over medium heat. Add the pork ribs together with the finely chopped leek and onions. Use a little drizzle of oil if you fancy a little frying and cook for 5 min stirring occasionally. I use a sprinkle of water instead of oil.
- Add the remaining chopped or cubed vegetables (1 carrot, ½ courgette, 2 celery sticks, 2 long Turkish peppers, and the roughly cut potatoes. I usually cut those into 8 or 12 chunks depending on their size. Allow these to cook with some salt for a further 3-4 min. Stir every minute or so.
- Add the vegetable stock (or the water), and the bay leaves. When it reaches the boiling point turn the heat slightly down to keep it to a nice bubbling point. Cover and cook for 40 minutes.
- After the 40 minutes, uncover, add some salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. If using gammon or any salty meat you may reduce the amount of salt or add none at all.
- Add the cooked ham hock, the garlic, and the frozen peas. Allow to boil for a further 10 min uncovered. Add the herbs at the end and serve with some nice crusty homemade sourdough or any crusty bread.
nancy says
this soup recipe is so tasty and easy to make! My kid loves it
Ramona says
thank you so much Nancy!
Diana says
I love potato soup, and love the fact that this soup is packed with veg!
Ramona says
Thank you so much dear Diana, I do hope you will make this soup soon.
Tayo says
This looks absolutely delicious! My kids love potatoes and this will be something to introduce to them. I'm sure they'll love it!
Ramona says
Thanks Tayo, I am very sure they will love it!
Ali Hanson says
This looks so good. We always fight for the ham hock in my family. Useful for so many recipes!
Ramona says
Thank you dear Ali, ha ha , I can imagine, it is so good!
Susan says
Yum! This looks delicious! My butcher can order ham hocks for me and now I have a perfect use for them! Thanks for sharing!
Ramona says
Thank you Susan,
I need to find the butcher to do that for sure. Oh this soup is delicious, I am sure you will find this as well. Enjoy!
Brian Jones says
Oh my that looks heavenly, I can't believe that you can not get ham hock in London,... The decline of the proper butchers shop in the UK is a crying shame.
Have you found a decent butcher and asked if they can order you one? You may struggle to get smoked as it was never a thing in the UK, but you should be able to get pork knuckle which is what it is more commonly known as in the UK.
There are also small Hungarian speciality stores littered across the UK, this one is in London and offers Fustolt Csulok which is smoked ham hock at the bottom of this page.
https://hungariandeli.co.uk/egyeb-huskeszitmenyek-allati-zsiradek-235-c.asp
Ramona says
I so agree with you Brian, A lot of the butchers have dissapeared and it is such a shame! I also happen to live in an area where pork is a no no so I really need to get out there way wider areas to find some good old ham hock. Thank so much for the tips though. I do have these shops where you can find a lot of Eastern European delicatessen but nothing is fresh and locally produced. I am sure I will find some source that will get me all happy and fully satisfied ;-). I shall definitely try the produce from the suggested Hungarian shop. Oh, by the way, I did get some amazing Hungarian sausages not long ago in a local grocery store - they were to die for. Amazing!
The Panicked Foodie says
Oooo this looks so good, especially for the fall and winter months! Potato soup is one of my favorite comfort foods, but I've never tried it with ham hock.
Ramona says
Hi and thanks so much for stopping by. Yes, absolutely but for me a soup it is a all year affair, I always enjoy a good soup no matter what the weather is like. I do agree that this soup in the winter is a divine soul hugger indeed. You definitely must try this with ham hock, it is super tasty.
Julie @ Running in a Skirt says
You had me at potato soup! What a delish version. I love the flavors in this one- can't wait to try it.
Ramona says
Thank you Julie,
I am so happy you like this recipe as much as I do. Enjoy!
Beth Neels says
i'm like you! I could eat soup all year long! This is such a colorful and fresh looking soup! All of your daily veges in one dish!! Can't wait to try it!
Ramona says
Thank you so much dear Beth, exactly! all daily veges in one dish. I am doing this for a good few years since I have had the kids so it is now such a habbit ;-). I do hope you’ll give this soulp a try, it’s delicious!