Ham Hock Minestrone Soup Recipe (Healthy and Hearty)
This hearty Ham Hock Minestrone Soup recipe is a very satisfying, rustic soup that is a complete meal in itself, full of healthy vegetables, protein-rich creamy beans, comforting pasta, and delicious smoky ham.
Ingredients
- 1 x 1 lb (500 g) smoked ham hock
- 2 TBSP olive oil
- 1 TBSP butter
- 2 medium carrots (peeled and chopped)
- 2 big onions (sliced)
- 4 garlic cloves (smashed and chopped)
- 1/4-1/2 head cabbage (shredded)
- 5 celery stalks (chopped)
- 2 cups green beans
- 2 cups green peas
- 1 medium zucchini (around 2 cups)
- 1 medium potato (optional)
- 2 x 15 ounce cans (2 x 400 g) of beans
- 1 x 15 ounce can (400 g) of chopped tomatoes
- 2 TBSP tomato paste
- 3-4 cubes of chicken bouillon (or 2 TBSP of Vegeta All Purpose Seasoning Mix, or to taste)
- 1 Parmesan rind (chopped)
- ½ cup Parmesan cheese (grated)
- 2-3 bay leaves
- 1 TBSP dry oregano
- 2-3 cups cooked pasta (cooked as package directed)
- salt and pepper to taste
- 3-4 TBSP lemon juice (optional)
Instructions
- If you are using dried beans soaked overnight, start by adding them to a separate pot with water. The water should be around 1 1/2 inch (5 cm) above the beans. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer from 50 minutes to 2 hours, depending on the bean variety you. Check to see when the beans are done.
- In a 9 quart (9 liter) pot, warm the olive oil and butter. Add the onions, garlic, and a pinch of salt. Sauté onions for 3-5 minutes until translucent and fragrant (you can also add the carrots and celery together with the onions if you prefer).
- Add the tomato paste and sauté for 2-3 minutes.
- Pour 4 quarts (4 liters) of water, turn the heat to medium-high, and bring to a boil. Then add the ham hock, the can of chopped tomatoes, and the bay leaves. Lower the heat to low and simmer for 2 hours, until the ham hock is almost cooked through, and falling off the bone. Take out with tongs, and shred with two forks or your hands. Set aside.
- Add the rest of the chopped veggies (carrots, cabbage, celery ribs, green beans, green peas, zucchini, spinach), chopped Parmesan rind, canned beans, chicken bouillon, and cook until all the veggies are tender, around 15-20 minutes of cooking. When ready, add the grated Parmesan and the oregano, and cook for 1-2 more minutes, then turn off.
- Meanwhile, in a separate pot, cook the pasta al dente, as per package instructions. Rinse with cold water to wash off the starch and prevent the pasta from sticking to each other.
- Add the meat back to the soup.
- Taste and season with more salt and pepper, if needed. If you'd like to add a bit of brightness to your minestrone, to cut through the richness, add 3-4 tablespoons of freshly squeezed lemon juice (taste after each tablespoon and adjust to your taste).
- To serve, spoon some pasta into the serving bowls, then top with the soup, veggies and ham.
- Finish with a good sprinkling of Parmesan cheese and chopped fresh basil or parsley (optional). Best served with garlic bread or any crusty, rustic bread.
Notes
- instead of using chicken bouillon cubes (or Vegeta All Purpose Seasoning Mix), you can replace the 4 quarts (4 liters) of water for the soup with vegetable stock, chicken stock, or beef stock.
- I prefer to cook and keep the pasta separate from the soup, as the pasta can easily overcook. Also, by the next day, the pasta will soak a lot of the soup and it will become too thick. I personally prefer my minestrone to be more of a thick soup than a stew. So, I keep the pasta in a separate sealed bag in the fridge, and only add it to the serving bowls.
- I never drain beans when using in a soup. I know everybody does it, but I don't. I add the liquid to the soup and it gives it more depth of flavor and aroma. Just make sure the liquid in the can is clear and not cloudy.
- if using dry beans, use the cooking water from the beans to add to the soup, if needed, instead of water.
- if you feel that after 2-3 days, the veggies have soaked some of the broth, just add 1-2 more cups of water and bring to a boil. Also, adjust the seasoning, by adding a teaspoon salt or some more Vegeta All Purpose Seasoning Mix.
- this hearty minestrone soup is the perfect way to use up a variety of vegetables you might have at hand, and a great way to clean up your fridge of any leftover veggies.