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Smoked Ham, Barley, and Vegetable Soup
 
recipe image
Prep Time: 0 Minutes
Cook Time: 0 Minutes
Ready In: 0 Minutes
Servings: 8
Even in the spring it can be very chilly here in New England, saysMichelle M. Littlefield of Feeding Hills, Massachusetts. My mom and I like to prepare this soup on weekends — and our entire family loves to warm up with a bowl of it.
Ingredients:
10 cups canned low-salt chicken broth
3 pounds smoked ham hocks
3/4 pound russet potatoes (about 2 medium), peeled, diced
1 14-ounce can diced tomatoes in juice
1 medium onion, chopped
2 medium carrots, peeled, chopped
1 cup chopped celery
3/4 cup pearl barley, rinsed
2 teaspoons dried oregano
8 ounces fresh green beans, trimmed, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
Directions:
1. Bring broth and ham hocks to boil in large pot. Cover, reduce heat to medium-low and simmer 15 minutes. Add diced potatoes, tomatoes with juices, onion, carrots, celery, barley, and oregano. Bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low; simmer uncovered until meat and barley are tender, about 1 hour.
2. Using tongs, remove ham hocks from soup. Cut meat off bones and chop coarsely. Return meat to soup; discard bones. (Can be prepared 2 days ahead. Refrigerate uncovered until cold, then cover and refrigerate. Bring to simmer before continuing.) Add green beans; simmer until beans are tender, about 15 minutes. Season soup to taste with salt and pepper.
By RecipeOfHealth.com