Sour Cream Ham & Potato Soup
One of my favorite soup recipes of all times, Sour Cream Ham & Potato Soup, is incredibly rich in flavors with no skimping on the good stuff! The base of the soup is stock from simmering a ham bone ahead of time, for hours on end. Straining the stock, then adding potatoes, vegetables, and loads of leftover ham, and a bit of heavy cream and sour cream at the very end, you’ll find yourself enjoying a soup unlike any other. Many soups use canned broth from the grocery store as a base, which is quite inferior to stock made at home. Homemade stock made by simmering a bone most of the day, is rich in flavors and dense in nutrients such as gelatin, calcium, magnesium, condroitin, glucosamine and more, as explained so nicely in the article Broth is Beautiful, by Sally Fallon.
When originally searching for ham soup recipes on-line, I found mostly recipes with lots of beans, which did not appeal to me. It just wasn’t what I was looking for. I ended up using my own ideas and mixing up ingredients I thought would fit well with the soup, also adding cream and sour cream at the very end as suggested by Paula Dean in her recipe. I was so happy with the results that I couldn’t wait to make it again, wishing I had purchased more than just one bone-in-ham during the holiday super-sale! Well, I’ve made this soup multiple times since then, making sure to purchase more than one bone-in ham at a time. I now have several bags of stock in the freezer, just like the liquid gold turkey stock that we love so much as well. As the husband of a friend said, after I gave them this soup for a meal during a time of illness in her family: “I don’t care for soup, but this is really good!” That comment made my day!
If you do try this recipe, I would really appreciate a quick comment with a star rating (option found immediately under each recipe). It helps me out tremendously! Thanks in advance!
Making the Soup
First thing up when making what I like to call a homestead soup (just sounds so charming, doesn’t it? Homestead…), and definitely ahead of time, make stock from a leftover ham bone with cartilage and bits of ham still stuck to it, and any skin and scraps from leftovers as well. Just put the bone in a pot that just fits in the width, and pour water over it until it barely covers. Also add a tablespoon or two of vinegar (or even lemon juice) to help pull out the wonderful minerals from the bone. According to the Weston A. Price Foundation, adding vinegar will help make the stock as nutritious and healthful as possible. It is my impression that any vinegar will do, so I believe you can use the vinegar of your choice. Personally I usually use rice vinegar as it is milder in flavor than white, distilled vinegar, which is very sour and strong.
Keep the pot covered and let it simmer on low heat the entire day if you can, or at least 6-8 hours. When done cooking, strain, then refrigerate or freeze the stock in portions until ready to use.
To make the actual soup, chop and slice potatoes, carrots, celery, and onions. Cut the pieces fairly small.
I like to chop the onions under my kitchen fan, to help get rid of some of those fumes that cause my eyes to water. It has always been very helpful for me. My fan does vent to outdoors, so that probably helps as well.
In a medium sized pot, bring the veggies to a boil in the ham stock. I also added some parsnips this time, as I had some on hand that I wanted to use up.
Simmer until vegetables are tender.
Add ham and corn. I freeze leftover ham in portions, so it’s easy and convenient to grab a pack and drop in, while still frozen. I also use frozen corn rather than canned.
Whisk together flour and water (or vegetable broth) until smooth.
While stirring, pour the flour mixture into soup in a steady stream. Bring to a boil again and simmer for 3 minutes until corn has finished cooking and soup has thickened slightly.
Pull pot away from heat, and let sit for at least two minutes for the temperature to drop slightly. Meanwhile, add salt and pepper to taste. Then stir in heavy cream, and at last, the sour cream, stirring very well to combine. No NOT let the soup boil or simmer after adding sour cream, to avoid curdling or thinning. Sour cream does not tolerate high heat.
The Rich Homestead Sour Cream Ham & Potato Soup is now done, and ready to serve! The stock adds such tasty, rich flavors, and this soup is the perfect comfort food to warm you up on a cold winter day! Please comment and rate this recipe if you try it; option is found immediately under the recipe. Thank you!!
- 3½ c ham stock
- 3 medium potatoes, cubed (3 c)
- 2 medium / large carrots, sliced (1½ - 2 cups)
- 1 stalk celery, thinly sliced (1/2 c)
- ¼ c (1 x-small) finely chopped onion
- ¾ c corn
- 2½ c (or more) cubed or shredded leftover ham
- ½ c water or vegetable broth
- 1½ Tbsp flour
- salt / pepper to taste
- ¼ c sour cream
- ¼ c heavy cream
- In a pot, just barely cover the ham bone and pieces of cartilage with water and a tablespoon vinegar or lemon juice. Let simmer for 6-8 hours or longer. All day is fine.
- Strain, and discard of the bone and pieces. Refrigerate or freeze the stock until ready to use.
- To make the soup, mix together stock, potatoes, carrots, celery, and onion. Let simmer until vegetables are tender.
- Add corn and ham.
- Whisk together water (or vegetable broth) and flour until smooth.
- Pour into soup in a small stream while stirring, to avoid lumps.
- Let the soup simmer for 3 more minutes until thickened and corn cooked.
- Season to taste with salt and pepper.
- Remove pot from the heat and let cool for a couple of minutes.
- Add heavy cream, then sour cream, stirring very well to combine. Do not let the soup boil after sour cream is added, to prevent thinning or curdling.
Why can’t I print this recipe?
I just tried printing it myself, and it worked just fine for me. So I’m not sure why you are not able to print it. Maybe just do a copy and paste of the text into a document, then print?
After you make a batch what’s the best thing to do with any left over soup to save for eating later? Just refrigerate it or freeze it? Also when you rewarm it anything special that you do? It’s just two of us so a pot is going to be multiple meals I’m debating on freezing it then just rewarding in sauce pan.
I usually refrigerate for up to several days, if it lasts that long. I absolutely love the flavors in this soup, so I look forward to the leftovers. Otherwise you could half the recipe. I would think that freezing should be fine as well, but personally I just put them in the refrigerator. When heating, I do that on the stove top while stirring, and I don’t bring it all the way to a boil since there’s sour cream in it. Just until hot.
Thanks for sharing! I fixed a ham in the crock pot for Sunday supper, and there was so much liquid left that I couldn’t let it go to waste. I put the bone back in with a little more water (forgot about the lemon juice), and left it on low overnight. Oh, my WORD, it was good enough to sip on its own, but I’m definitely going to use it for your soup recipe.
Yeah, that stock is really something! The flavor is unbelievable! I let the bone cook for a full 24 hours, and all day I’m just dreaming about soup!
Just finished making the soup have not tasted it yet, but I had some much ham stock it appears I’ll have to make an other batch.
Good for you! And you can always put the leftover stock in the freezer for a different time.
I’m curious how you can be finished making this and not have tasted it. How does one know if they need to adjust any spices, etc?
I’m not sure if I quite understand what you mean, or what you’re referring to? I always taste to adjust spices as needed.
I just want to tell you how absolutely Phenomenal you are ,I love cooking and your so he has given me a ton of new recipes to try ….sooooo excited Thank you
Awesome! Great to hear!
This sounds lovely. Going to give this a go. thanks for sharing this recipe.
Simon
Absoutly positively amazing . I wish I had a cold its so good.
Thank you! 😀
This was great. I also added turkey and my left over greens..perfect..best soup I’ve ever had!
That’s great to hear! Thank you!
Made this the other night and it was awesome! Thank you for the recipe!!
Great! Thank you for letting me know!
Had ham stock on hand and needed recipe. I usually do the pea/lentil thing , hadn’t thought of potatoes so finding your recipe was perfect!
I’m glad to hear that! Thank you for leaving a comment!
OMG! Absolutely delicious ….will never make pea soup again.. I did it add heavy cream and sour cream was added to my bowl only(i’ve got picky eaters)?. I had no corn but added shredded cabbage, yum yum…Thanks for sharing
Renee, from Montreal Canada (pea soup country!!)??
That’s nice to hear! Thank you for leaving a comment!
meant to say: did NOT add heavy cream….
Hi, I made the stock last night and making the soup today. Do I add the potatoes and the other veggies into the soup at the same time? And I’m boiling them or just simmering them? I’m worried about overcooking the potatoes into mush. I’m very inexperienced so I appreciate all of the advice. Thank you
Yes, the potatoes should be added together with carrots, celery, and onion. But wait with the corn since corn only needs three minutes or so, or only needs to warm up if they were from a can. After reaching a boil, you can turn down the temperature to let the veggies simmer, so a bubble here and there but not a full rolling boil. I would not be too concerned about it though, even if the potatoes do break down a bit it’s still OK. Sometimes I’m too busy in the kitchen to pay too close attention, so I just check to see that it doesn’t boil hard, but also that it doesn’t go to a stand-still or it takes forever. Somewhere in between. Don’t be too intimidated by getting it all perfect, I’m sure your soup will be wonderful regardless! I’m glad to see that you’re venturing out and trying something new even if you aren’t experienced, that’s how you’ll grow and learn great things!
I made this soup over the weekend and I must say, it was more delicious than I expected! Easy as pie to make and perfectly wonderful. I doubled the recipe and substituted lima beans for the corn and packed some in the freezer for “emergency soup”! Definitely five stars! *****
Excellent! Thank you for commenting and for the stars!
i’ve been making a potato/cauliflower soup for years that i add half & half to at the end, off heat. haha, i even wrote a notation on the recipe to add ham to make it a complete meal!! i’ve got my veggies simmering in my hambone stock as i type; added parsnips like you did and threw in a 1/2 bag of frozen cut okra just for grins. i mash my softened potatoes & veggies which to me is more appealing than bigger chunks and might appeal more to fussy eaters who like a creamery soup. keep up the great work in the kitchen, Pops.
Thank you, I will, and likewise! Sounds like you’ve got some great ideas and skills in the kitchen. I should try mashing some time, to change it up a little bit. Last night I made it for my family and I added some pinto beans that I had in the freezer. Thank you for your comment and star rating, I appreciate it!
you’re very welcome for the comment, and thanks for aknowledging that i have spent a great deal of time in the kitchen cooking for my family and now just for myself. i looked at your Norwegian meatball recipe and can’t help to say: GO Italian!! nutmeg & ginger, are you kidding me? i’m a bigger fan of oregano, basil, garlic, parsley and a couple Tbsp. of grated parmesan cheese. have a great evening. xo, Pops.
Haha! Well, when you throw in traditions and flavors remembered from your youth, there’s no beating it! 😉
p.s. i forgot to mention that your tip to add 2 Tbsps. of vinegar to the water simmering the flavor out of the hambone may not be necessary, BUT, my end broth sure had a very rich flavor!! thanks for the tip. xo, Pops
Yes, very flavorful regardless, definitely. The main reason to add vinegar or lemon is to extract more minerals from the bones to raise the nutritional value. 🙂
I made your Homestead soup for a family gathering during the holidays. It was gone and still, they were tipping the pot to get the last dribbles. haha
Thank you for a “Keeper”!
Oh how nice to hear!! Thank you for sharing, and for leaving me a star review!
I’m NOT a soup person. I prepared this recipe because I had a great ham bone leftover from Easter. OMG, this soup is awesome! I left out celery and onions, added salt/pepper. It would have been useful to know which type of vintage to use, I had to Goggle it (cider). Thx for educating on how to draw out all the nutrients from bones!
Good to hear! And for vinegar, I really do believe any type of vinegar will do, and though I used to use regular, plain, white distilled vinegar, I now use mostly rice vinegar because it is so milk in flavor. Apple cider vinegar should also be a good choice. I just edited my recipe to clarify. Thank you for pointing that out!