Pennsylvania Dutch Ham Cabbage Soup Recipes

HEARTY COUNTRY HAM AND CABBAGE SOUP

Steps:

• Heat oil in a large, heavy-bottomed pan. Add onion and fry until soft, about 5 minutes. Add country ham and cook for 3 to 4 minutes. Add chicken stock and potatoes; make sure potatoes are completely covered by the stock. Throw in thyme sprigs and bring to a boil.
• Reduce heat and simmer until potatoes are soft, about 20 minutes. Remove and discard thyme sprigs. Add cabbage and mix well; the liquid no longer needs to cover the cabbage-potato mix. Bring back to a boil.
• Cover and reduce heat; simmer until the thickest parts of the cabbage are softened, 5 to 10 more minutes. Taste, then season with salt and pepper if needed.
• Mix water and cornstarch in a small bowl and add slowly to the soup. Mix well and cook until soup is about the consistency of heavy cream or desired thickness; it should not be too thick. Cook for 2 to 3 more minutes before serving.

HAM AND CABBAGE SOUP

Steps:

• Heat two tablespoons of the olive oil in a stockpot pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the onions, carrots, and the ham. Cook, stirring every once and a while until the vegetables have softened and the onions are translucent; 8 to 10 minutes.
• Add the garlic, rosemary, black pepper, and the red pepper flakes. Cook, while stirring, for one minute. Stir in the cabbage, and then pour in the canned tomatoes and their juices as well as the stock. Add the bay leaves.
• Raise the heat to medium-high and bring the soup to a boil. Taste then adjust with salt. The ham does add some salt to the soup so you may not need a lot of additional seasoning.
• Partially cover the pot with a lid, and then reduce the heat to maintain a low simmer. Simmer for 20 minutes or until the cabbage, and other vegetables are tender.
• Remove the pot from the heat and remove the bay leaves. Stir in the lemon slices and the remaining tablespoon of olive oil. Taste and season with more salt and pepper. Serve.

PENNSYLVANIA DUTCH HAM & CABBAGE SOUP

Steps:

• Boil ham shanks for 3 hours in large pot.
• Remove ham shanks and set aside to cool.
• Cut potatoes into quarters, with or without skin, and add to broth.
• Quarter the head of cabbage and wash. Add to pot and bring to boil.
• Clean the cooled ham shanks, removing the meat from the bone and add to the pot.
• Boil another 1/2 hour and let cool for 1/2 hour.
• Serve. Vinegar can be added if preferred. I never add salt because the ham adds enough.

HEARTY CABBAGE AND HAM SOUP

Steps:

• Melt butter in a large stockpot over medium-high heat. Add celery, onion, and carrot. Saute for 4 minutes. Stir in flour and cook 1 minute more.
• Add cabbage, broth, ham, potatoes, parsley, thyme, marjoram, and ground pepper. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, reduce heat, and simmer until potatoes are tender, about 30 minutes.
• Stir in peas and cook for 10 minutes. Ladle into bowls and serve.

PENNSYLVANIA DUTCH CABBAGE SAUTE

Steps:

• Saute bacon in a large skillet until crisp. Drain bacon on paper towel. Crumble and set aside.
• Add butter or margarine to skillet if necessary to make 1/4 cup of drippings. Add cabbage, apple, onion, salt, and caraway seeds, 2 Tbl. vinegar, and toss to blend well. Cook 10 to 15 minutes over medium heat.
• Add noodles, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes more.
• Stir in remaining vinegar, sprinkle with reserved bacon, and garnish with sour cream.