Pumpkin Soup With Ham Hock Recipes

ROASTED SWEET POTATO SOUP WITH HAM HOCKS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Arrange the sweet potatoes in a single layer on a baking sheet. Place in the center of the oven and bake until fully cooked, 1 to 1 1/2 hours. To check for doneness, pierce one with the tip of a small knife; it should slide in and out easily. Set the potatoes aside until cool enough to handle.
• Meanwhile, place the chicken stock, ham hock and 1 cup water in a medium pot and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer, adding more water if the liquid runs low, until the tough skin of the ham hock softens, 30 to 45 minutes. Remove the ham hock and transfer to a flat surface. Peel away or use a knife to cut off the tough skin. Discard the skin and cut the meat beneath it into smaller pieces. Put the meat back into the stock and simmer gently over low heat so the meat flakes and flavors the liquid. You want to end up with 1 to 1 1/2 cups meaty, flavorful liquid. Keep warm.
• In a small saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat until it turns a light brown color, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from the heat and immediately stir in the brown sugar, cinnamon, orange zest and juice and stir to combine. Set aside.
• Peel the sweet potatoes and break the flesh into chunks; put the chunks into a large pot. Add the coconut milk and 1 cup water and simmer over medium heat, 5 to 8 minutes. Puree the soup with an immersion blender or in small batches in a blender. Return the soup to the pot and stir in the brown butter and ham and liquid. Taste for seasoning. If the soup needs more flavor, add salt, pepper, a pinch of brown sugar or more orange zest.

PUMPKIN SOUP WITH HAM

Steps:

• Heat oil and butter in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onion, apples, and thyme and saute until onion is golden and apples are soft. Add pumpkin or squash and stir until smooth. Stir in broth and ham and heat gently (do not boil). Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve warm, garnished with sour cream and parsley.

SAVORY PUMPKIN SOUP WITH HAM

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add onion and garlic; saute until tender, about 5 minutes. Add pumpkin, chicken broth, water, salt, pepper, and celery seed. Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat; add milk and yogurt. Puree using an immersion blender until smooth. Add ham and let stand until heated through.

SMOKED HAM HOCK AND CABBAGE SOUP

Steps:

• Remove skin from smoked ham hocks.
• In a large soup pot, heat oil over medium heat. Saute carrots, onions, chopped celery, oregano. thyme, bay leaf, and ham hocks until carrots are tender-about 10 minutes.
• Add the cabbage, garlic, and black pepper, and saute 5 minutes longer or until cabbage is tender.
• Add all the liquid and the whole stalk of celery and bring to a boil over high heat.
• Reduce heat and simmer, covered for 1 1/2 hours.
• Remove ham hocks and set aside to cool. Discard stalk of celery and bay leaf.
• Skim some or all fat.
• Remove meat from cooled ham hocks and add back into the soup.
• Add brown sugar. Salt very carefully. Allow to heat fully and serve.
• If you want it a little sweeter, add a little more brown sugar.