Tony Diramios Official Ham Bone Soup Recipes

TONY DIRAMIO'S OFFICIAL HAM BONE SOUP

Steps:

• 1. In a large pot place ham bone and water. Bring to boil then reduce heat for about 15-20 minutes.
• 2. Then stir in chicken broth.
• 3. Add chopped onion, celery, and carrots.
• 4. Add escarole, beans, and diced tomatoes.
• 5. Season to taste with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and oregano or Italian seasoning.
• 6. Bring to a boil then cover pot and simmer for 2 hours.
• 7. Serve with grated Romano cheese.

HAM BONE SOUP

Steps:

• The day before you want to make the soup. put the beans in a large bowl and add cold water to cover by several inches. Soak overnight (or at least 8 hours) in the refrigerator.
• Drain the beans and rinse. Heat the olive oil in a large Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the carrots, celery and leeks and season with 1 teaspoon of salt. Cook and stir until the vegetables are softened, about 5 minutes.
• Add the tomato paste and thyme and stir to coat the vegetables. Let the tomato paste toast for 1 minute, stirring, then add the bay leaves and 12 cups of water. Add the beans and nestle the ham bone in. Bring to a simmer and cook, uncovered, until the beans are almost tender, 45 minutes to 1 hour.
• Add the escarole, another 2 cups of water and 1 teaspoon salt. Return the soup to a simmer and cook until thickened and the beans and escarole are very tender, 20 to 30 minutes.
• Remove the bay leaves and ham bone from the soup and let cool until you can handle the bone. Shred any useable meat left on the bone and stir back into the soup. Season with salt and pepper before serving.

HAM BONE SOUP

Steps:

• Soak the beans overnight or, for a quick soak, place in a pot, cover with water, add salt, and boil for about 45 minutes, just until they begin to soften. Drain and rinse.
• Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan or Dutch oven over medium heat until hot. Add the onions, reduce the heat to low, and cook and stir for about 10 minutes, until soft and light brown. Add the carrots and celery and continue to cook and stir for about 5 minutes longer, until the vegetables are tender. Add the garlic and continue to cook, stirring constantly, for about 1 minute.
• Add the ham bone, beans, and cold water. Season with the bay leaves, salt, red pepper flakes, and black pepper and stir to mix. Bring to a low boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer for about 2 hours, skimming the scum that rises to the top as needed, until the ham is falling off the bone and the beans are tender.
• Remove the bone from the pot and remove and discard the bay leaves. When cool enough to handle, pick the meat from the bone, shred it, and return the meat to the soup, discarding the bone.
• Stir in the collard greens and simmer for another 15 to 20 minutes, until the greens are wilted and tender. Taste for seasoning and add more salt and pepper, if desired. Serve warm with lots of onion and hot sauce on the side.

LEFTOVER HAM BONE SOUP

Steps:

• Fill a large soup pot with enough water to cover the ham bone, but don't add the bone yet. Bring to a boil.
• When boiling, add bouillon cubes and salt. Crush bouillon with a spoon until dissolved, then add ham bone, potatoes, onions, kidney beans, turmeric, and cloves. Stir to blend spices and return to a boil.
• Lower to medium-low heat and simmer until ham is hot and potatoes are easily pierced by a fork, about 1 hour.
• Remove ham bone. Shred meat and discard bone. Return meat to the soup, and serve.

AFTER THE HOLIDAYS HAM BONE SOUP

Steps:

• Place the ham bone into a large pot and fill with enough water to cover. Bring to a boil and cook for 15 minutes. Add the onion and tomatoes, then stir in the frozen mixed vegetables and potatoes. Simmer for about 20 minutes, then add the macaroni, rice, and chopped ham. Cover and simmer over medium-low heat for 1 1/2 hours. Any ham on the bone should come off easily. Stir in the tomato sauce and let cool for about 15 minutes before serving.

TONY DIRAMIO'S (NOT YOUR MAMA'S) FRA DIAVOLO SAUCE

Steps:

• In a large skillet or sauce pan sauté white onions in olive oil.
• Crush plum tomatoes in you hand and then add to skillet with white onions.
• Add crushed tomatoes and seasoning to skillet and cook covered at medium high heat for 30 minutes. Reduce heat and simmer on low for 2-1/2 hours; stirring occasionally.
• If you remove lid and let steam escape the sauce will thicken. Some people like it thicker.
• The sauce will get hotter (spicier) the longer you let simmer.
• The trick to hotter sauce is to add the desired crushed red pepper at the beginning.