Nicola's Ham and Vegetable Soup (2024)

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This tasty ham and vegetable soup is packed full of nutrition. It's an easy to makehearty healthy soup that makes 6 to 8 portions. It freezes well too.

Nicola's Ham and Vegetable Soup (1)

Folks, there's history to this delicious ham and vegetable soup!

I was introduced to this winter veg soup recipe by very good friend of mine, Nicola. Over 20 years ago, when I was in my first job after university.

We worked together in a bank in Dundee and she often made this for her own lunch before introducing me to it.

This simple ham vegetable soup quickly became a staple of mine. Indeed it probably saved me from malnutrition!

It's still more or less the original recipe that she wrote down for me - all credit to her!

So filling, this soup is a great help in avoiding the temptation to reach for those unhealthy in-between meal snacks!

I tend to only have a small roll with this soup, as I’m so full up when I’ve eaten it!

The recipe will make between 6 - 8 portions for you to freeze. It’s also a great winter warmer.

There’s no need to use any spray oils for any softening of the ingredients in this ham and vegetable soup.

It's just a case of simply putting all the ingredients into one large pot and watching it bubble away on the stove!

If you have time to follow the preparation part in the recipe called "night before" for great home made soup with ham stock, then all the better.

But if you don’t, or can’t get the bacon joint, then you can skip straight to the preparing of the ingredients as ham stock cubes will do just as well.

Incidentally, I did not use a bacon joint in the picture of the soup that you see. I used 3 ham stock cubes and added in little pieces of chopped gammon joint that I had left over from Christmas. Then I added all the vegetables.

For This Ham and Vegetable Soup Recipe You May Need….

The following links and any links in the recipe card below are affiliate links.

This means that if you click on it and then buy that product, I’ll get a small commission (at no extra cost to you of course).

If you do click through, then thanks for being a part of Neil’s Healthy Meals!

Equipment

This is the set of pans I recommend for cooking with.

Nicola's Ham and Vegetable Soup (3)Nicola's Ham and Vegetable Soup (4)

The set includes 16, 18, 20 cm saucepans, 1 x 14 cm milk pan and 1 x 24 cm fry pan.

The pans are suitable for all hobs including induction.

They come with a 1-year guarantee which can be extended to a 10-year warranty when you register the product.

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Other Popular Vegetable Soup Recipes You Might Also Like

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  • Mediterranean vegetable soup is just 100 calories per serving and at the same time it’s full of flavour and extremely filling.
  • Simple chicken and vegetable soup. Simple because it’s made with basic vegetables, a chicken breast and stock cubes. It’s just a really tasty and satisfying simple soup recipe. A quick healthy meal all in one!

This tasty ham and vegetable soup is packed full of nutrition. It's an easy to makehearty healthy soup that makes 6 to 8 portions. It freezes well too.Click to Tweet

Ham and Vegetable Soup Recipe

You could have this ham and vegetable soup as your main meal with a couple of hunks of homemade bread!

I’d love to hear what you think of my recipe in the comments below and please do rate my recipe 5* if you like it! 🙂

Nicola's Ham and Vegetable Soup (5)

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4.50 from 2 votes

Ham and Vegetable Soup Recipe

Packed full of nutrition this ham and vegetable soup will fill you up and help to avoid you reaching for those unhealthy snacks!

Prep Time30 minutes mins

Cook Time30 minutes mins

Total Time1 hour hr

Course: Lunch

Cuisine: British

Servings: 8

Calories: 303kcal

Author: Neil

The following links and any links in the recipe card below are affiliate links.

This means that if you click on it and then buy that product I’ll get a small commission (at no extra cost to you of course).

If you do click through then thanks for being a part of Neil’s Healthy Meals!

Ingredients

  • 1.5 L ham stock (made by night before method below or ham stock cubes)
  • 175 g red split lentils
  • 2 large leeks , cleaned and chopped into 1cm strips
  • 4 peeled and chopped medium sized white potatoes
  • 3 large carrots , diced
  • 1 tablespoon chopped parsley
  • Salt and pepper

Metric - US Customary

Instructions

Night before:-

  • In a large pot (enough to hold 2.5litres of liquid in total) place a ham/bacon joint, cover with cold water, bring to the boil, and simmer for approximately 1.5 hours. Switch off the heat and cover the pot leaving it overnight for the flavours to marinate.

In the morning

  • Remove the bacon joint from the cold water and set aside, skim off any fat from the liquid in the pot. Chop off little pieces of the bacon meat (do not add any bacon fat) from the joint and add back to the liquid. Bring the liquid back to the boil and leave simmering gently. Meanwhile prepare the vegetables.

  • Bring to the boil and turn down to simmer the 1.5 litres ham stock (with bacon meat pieces if used)

  • Add the red split lentils, chopped leeks, chopped potatoes and diced carrots.

  • Bring all the ingredients back to the boil and simmer gently for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add boiled water from your kettle if required to top up.

  • Once all the vegetables are extremely soft, turn off the heat and allow the soup to cool for about 30 minutes.

  • Use a potato masher to mash all the veg. Do not puree the ingredients; just mash them down to a consistency you like. Add boiled water from your kettle if you need to add more liquid.

  • Add the chopped parsley and stir in thoroughly.

  • Add salt and pepper to taste.

Nutrition

Calories: 303kcal | Carbohydrates: 55.8g | Protein: 14.3g | Fat: 2.9g | Saturated Fat: 0.7g | Cholesterol: 5.7mg | Sodium: 589.3mg | Fiber: 12.5g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 5050IU | Vitamin C: 59.4mg | Calcium: 60mg | Iron: 3.8mg

Nutrition Facts

Ham and Vegetable Soup

Amount Per Serving

Calories 303Calories from Fat 26

% Daily Value*

Fat 2.9g4%

Saturated Fat 0.7g4%

Cholesterol 5.7mg2%

Sodium 589.3mg26%

Carbohydrates 55.8g19%

Fiber 12.5g52%

Sugar 8g9%

Protein 14.3g29%

Vitamin A 5050IU101%

Vitamin C 59.4mg72%

Calcium 60mg6%

Iron 3.8mg21%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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Nicola's Ham and Vegetable Soup (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret ingredient in soup? ›

It may sound a bit strange and unusual for some, but vinegar is a common ingredient in some soup recipes, and there is a good reason for it. If you think about it, vinegar is really a flavor-enhancer (umami). That's why it is so often used in cooking, sauces, and salad dressings. The same is true with soups.

What can I add to my vegetable soup to give it more flavor? ›

Adding a parmesan cheese rind to the simmering soup infuses it with salty, umami flavor. This is SUCH an easy way to add tons of flavor to soup. Look for parmesan cheese rinds at the cheese counter in your grocery store. If you want to keep the soup vegan, leave this out.

What's the healthiest soup? ›

6 delicious and healthy soups
  • Chicken Vietnamese Pho.
  • Green spring minestrone.
  • Herb and yoghurt-based soup.
  • Lamb shank and barley soup.
  • Pumpkin soup with star croutons.
  • Lentil and vegetable soup with crusty bread.
Apr 26, 2020

What does vegetable soup do to your body? ›

Nutritionally this is also beneficial as the nutrients found in vegetables including many water soluble vitamins such as vitamin B, C, K as well as dietary fibre and a range of minerals, also helps to regulate the digestive tract and ensure that we get the number of key nutrients we need each and every day.

What is the secret ingredient in the secret ingredient soup? ›

16,540,467 views The secret ingredient is... nothing! Despite that revelation, this so-called secret-soup is one of the most hotly requested dishes in the Babish Culinary Universe.

Why do chefs put vinegar in soup? ›

Think of vinegar as the conductor of an orchestra. It can take a cacophony of flavors and sync them into perfect harmony. It both balances and awakens them. Plus, if you accidentally add too much salt to your soup, a little vinegar will tame the saltiness.

What not to put in soup? ›

The Worst Things to Put in Your Soup
  1. By Sara Butler. If there's one good thing about fall and winter, it's soup. ...
  2. Heavy Cream. Heavy cream creates an inviting texture for soups but that's where its positive contributions end. ...
  3. Juice. ...
  4. Turkey Bacon. ...
  5. Cheese. ...
  6. Croutons.

What gives vegetable soup that depth of flavor? ›

A squeeze of citrus, a dollop of yogurt or a drizzle of cream, a dusting of cheese or a good chile powder, a sprinkling of some herbs or croutons — all can take a perfectly fine soup into the realm of the delectable. Even a spiral of good olive oil to finish and some coarse sea salt can do wonders.

What is the most important ingredient in soup? ›

For clear, brothy soups, stock is your most important ingredient. If you want to make a good soup, you need to use an excellently flavored stock — otherwise, the entire pot could be tasteless.

What is the unhealthiest soup? ›

The 5 Worst Soups for Weight Loss (and 5 to Try Instead)
  • Clam chowder. Anything with the word "chowder" in it is probably going to be high in cream, fat, and calories. ...
  • Potato soup. ...
  • Lobster bisque. ...
  • Chili. ...
  • Broccoli and cheese soup. ...
  • Mushroom and barley soup. ...
  • Lumberjackie soup. ...
  • Chilled soups.
Jan 12, 2012

Which soup is good to reduce belly fat? ›

5 Best Soups That Will Help To Burn Belly Fat
  • Vegetable soup. Lean protein from chicken combined with a variety of vegetables can make a satisfying and low-calorie soup that can help you feel full and satisfied.
  • Chicken and vegetable soup. ...
  • Black bean soup. ...
  • Lentil soup. ...
  • Tomato soup.
Nov 4, 2023

What soup can I eat everyday to lose weight? ›

10 Healthy Soups That Can Help Support Weight Loss
  • Soup is naturally low in calories. Ani Dimi/Stocksy. ...
  • Spicy Black Bean Soup With Ancho Chile Pepitas. Courtesy of Marisa Moore. ...
  • Parsnip Pear Soup. Courtesy of Jessica Levinson. ...
  • Carrot Ginger Soup. ...
  • Creamy Kale and Dill Potato Leek Soup. ...
  • Creamy Vegan Pumpkin Soup.
Feb 7, 2022

Is it okay to eat vegetable soup every day? ›

General guidelines recommend that adults consume at least five servings of vegetables each day. Soup can be a great way to boost your intake. May reduce heart disease risk: Studies have shown that plant-based eating may help reduce the risk of heart disease and other health conditions.

Why is soup good for you at night? ›

Keeps You Satiated: Soup can help to keep you satiated, as it is a liquid-based meal that is typically high in water and fibre content. The water and fiber in soup can help to fill you up, making you feel less hungry. Additionally, soup is often low in calories, which can also help to keep you feeling full.

Is vegetable soup good for high blood pressure? ›

Vegetable soup is low in sodium and high in potassium. The vegetables in this soup are also a good source of fibre, which can help to regulate blood pressure.

What is the key to flavorful soup? ›

To make sure that every spoonful of soup is richly flavored, with juicy meat and/or tender vegetables, follow these kitchen-tested tips.
  1. Use a Sturdy Pot. ...
  2. Sauté the Aromatics. ...
  3. Start with Good Broth. ...
  4. Cut Vegetables to the Right Size. ...
  5. Stagger the Addition of Vegetables. ...
  6. Keep Liquid at a Simmer. ...
  7. Season Just Before Serving.
Oct 9, 2022

What is the 4 other thickening agents for soup? ›

  • Cornstarch. Cornstarch is the most common thickening agent used in the industry. ...
  • Pre-gelatinized Starches. Pre-gelatinized starches are mixed with sugar and then added to the water or juice. ...
  • Arrowroot. ...
  • Agar-Agar. ...
  • Algin (Sodium Alginate) ...
  • Gelatin. ...
  • Gum Arabic or Acacia. ...
  • Gum Tragacanth.

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