We always buy a large spiral ham around the holidays. I love saving the ham bone in the freezer so I can make soup during the cold winter months. That's just what I did this weekend when we had a blast of freezing arctic temperatures where I live.
I boiled the ham bone and made a ham broth to make my soup. I decided a ham and potato chowder would be a great way to warm us up during the below freezing weather. Then I felt a little guilty eating all those starchy potatoes in a milk based soup. I decided to lighten up the chowder a lot by substituting a cauliflower for the creaminess that the potatoes and milk give the soup. When you boil and blend the cauliflower, it makes a wonderful rich and creamy soup. Then I added two large potatoes to complete the texture of the soup.
If you decide to make this soup with a ham bone, make sure you start it the day before you actually make the soup. I always make my stocks/broths a day before and let it chill overnight in the fridge so all the fat/oil floats to the top and I can easily skim it off so the soup is not laden with all that unwanted oil.
Now if you don't have a ham bone... don't fret. You can always substitute chicken broth/stock. I just loving making my own stock because it's basically free... and free is always welcome with my food budget. I also love how much really good ham was hidden around that bone that I never would have used up if I didn't boil it for the stock. Not one bit of that spiral ham went to waste and I love getting 100% or more from my food.
This soup was so good that my son ate it for several meals that day. Yes... he even had a bowl for breakfast! He said it was one of the best soups I have ever made. That made me feel so happy. I loved that it was lightened up and that allowed me to have a second bowl as well.
Ham Potato and Cauliflower Chowder
Recipe by Ramona from Kitchen Simmer
Ingredients:
2-3 cups chopped cooked ham
1 large onion chopped
2 large potatoes cut int small cubes
1 large head of cauliflower cut into small pieces
1 bunch of green onions/scallions
8-10 cups ham broth or chicken broth
1 tsp dried thyme
1 tsp granulated garlic
red chili flakes to taste
chicken bullion powder **if needed
2 cups cheddar cheese(save some for garnish)
1/2 cup light sour cream
salt and black pepper to taste
Directions:
To make the Ham Broth:
The ham broth, chilled to show the white congealed fat on the top. |
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I've never made my own stock before, but I know I really should. The flavor is probably SO much better than store-bought stock! Great chowder recipe here!
ReplyDeleteI'm making a big ham for my husband's birthday this weekend. I am totally making your ham broth afterwards.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite ingredient is the cauliflower because of the texture it adds.
ReplyDeleteLove the new blog name!
ReplyDeleteThis recipe looks fantastic. I have never made ham stock before (have done chicken, beef and veggie). Sounds really cool. A broth that tastes bacon-y and ham-y. HELLO.
I wish that spoon could pop out of the screen! This looks fabulous! Such a comforting, delicious meal! :)
ReplyDeleteDear Ramona, what a great dish! I love the cauliflower with the ham. So delicious. This is one hearty soup I would love for lunch or dinner.
ReplyDeleteI am getting so hungry looking at this ♥
ReplyDeletesummerdaisy.net
This sounds like the perfect comfort food. So many great flavours in this wonderful soup. Perfect for these cold winter days.
ReplyDeleteToday was such a rainy gloomy day, I could have really used a big bowl of this!!
ReplyDeleteNever again will I throw away a ham bone!
ReplyDeleteWow, this sounds yummy! I boil hams in the slow cooker so I get an instant stock for soup, normally lentil or pea, but this looks worth a try!
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