Ham Vegetable Barley Soup with Basil Pistou

This post has been updated for photos and content since it’s original publication in 2014.

This rustic, homemade ham vegetable barley soup recipe is easy to make in about an hour using leftover ham and pantry staples. This ham and vegetable soup has a fresh French twist with a swirl of pistou (pronounced pees-too) for a fresh, herbal finish. This ham, veg and pistou soup recipe makes a big pot to feed a crowd and is great for meal prep.

My crew love steaming bowls of soup so much, I usually make at least one pot of homemade soup each week from the fall through spring. This ham and vegetable soup has become my latest obsession because it’s packed with fresh flavor and depth. With a few ordinary fresh and canned vegetables, toothsome barley and fresh basil pistou, you’ll never get bored with this one.

Ingredients for ham vegetable barley soup

My daughter think of this as an easy “dump and go” soup, because it’s got a few convenience items and is ready to eat in about an hour. She’s right.

Before we get into the nitty gritty of this ham and vegetable pistou soup, you might want to skim my tips for recommended equipment and ingredients.

Pro-Tips

Recommended equipment:

• I like to use a heavy enameled Dutch Oven to cook soups, stews and braises.
• Dutch ovens provide steady, even cooking whether it’s on the stovetop or in the oven.
• Bonus – they’re also pretty enough to bring right to the table, and because of their sturdy makeup, they’ll keep the contents hot throughout the meal. I start this vegetable barley soup in my large, 6-quart Dutch oven.

What type of ham to use:

• If you have leftover ham (from a holiday or family dinner) you can and should use it in this vegetable barley soup.
• If you don’t have leftover ham, you can use a ham steak or diced ham from the butcher or meat section of the market. (Note: do not use sliced deli ham).
• If you have a ham bone – whether from leftovers or a cross section from a ham steak, toss it into the soup – it will give the broth a richness and add body.

Chicken broth/stock

• If you’ve got homemade chicken broth you can and should use it here. I make a chicken stock from leftover rotisserie chicken that works great in this soup.
• If you’re using canned broth, try to use the low-sodium variety. The ham adds enough sodium to the vegetable barley soup and if you use regular broth it could be too salty.
• If you don’t have low sodium chicken broth, you can dilute it by using 5 cups of regular stock and 3 cups of water.

Barley

• The difference between pearled and quick cook barley is that the quick cook variety is more processed and has been rolled and steamed, to make it cook faster, usually in 10-15 minutes.
• I used pearled barley in this pistou soup, which takes longer to cook (about 45 minutes to an hour). You can use either style in this ham and vegetable soup. If you go with the quick cook variety, you’ll shave 30 minutes off the cook time.
• If using pearled barley, rinse it before adding it to the ham and vegetable soup to wash away dust or debris.

Cheese rinds

• I keep a stash of hard cheese rinds (usually Parmigiano Reggiano) in my freezer to enhance homemade soups. I just pull one out and pop it into the broth.
• Cheese rinds add flavor and richness — and puts those last sad bits of cheese to good use. Just be sure to fish it out before serving the ham vegetable and barley soup.
• You can also use the rinds of other types of hard cheeses, like Pecorino Romano or Grana Padano

Assembling ham vegetable barley soup

1. Sauté the onions, celery and carrots in the Dutch oven until softened and stir in the garlic. Cook for a minute or so until the garlic is fragrant.
2. Add the diced ham, tomatoes, canned beans, chicken broth, thyme and bay leaf and bring the mixture to a boil.
3. Add the barley along with the rind of parmesan cheese (if using). Cook until the barley is tender. (Cook times will vary depending on the type of barley you have.)
4. When the barley is tender, add the green beans and simmer until crisp tender, about 4-5 minutes.

What is pistou?

Pistou is like pesto without the pine nuts.

Pistou is a fragrant herbaceous paste or sauce usually made with fresh basil, garlic and parmesan cheese.

I like to use it as a condiment with grilled chicken, pork, lamb, beef and fish or seafood. However, you can also spread it on sandwiches, or swirl into soups like this ham vegetable and barley soup. Pistou adds brightness and vibrance.

To me, the pistou is critical to this recipe, taking the flavors to the next level. Don’t skip it!

Pistou ingredients

You can make homemade pistou by hand in a mortar and pestle, but it’s quicker and easier to do in a mini food processor.

How to make pistou for soup

1. Give the garlic a rough chop and add it to the food processor with the basil leaves, salt, lemon zest and red pepper flakes.
2. Pulse to finely chop the herbs.
3. Add the parmesan cheese and blend to combine.
4. Drizzle the olive oil into the basil mixture and process to form a paste.

My tasters LOVED this hearty, homemade vegetable barley soup with the herbaceous hit of basil and garlic. The ham gives the broth a meaty heft and the toothsome barley adds chew. Canned white beans make this pistou soup a complete meal while the crisp, tender green beans keep if fresh. This soup has it all.

I recommend serving the pistou on the side so diners can add as much as they want.

FAQ’s

What to serve with ham and vegetable soup:

• Leafy Green Salad
• Soft Parmesan Dinner Rolls
• Homemade Crescent Rolls
• Seasoned Oyster Crackers

More ham and vegetable soup recipes:

• Ham, Kale and Great Northern Bean Soup
• Ham Bone Split Pea Soup
• Belly Warming Hatch Chile Ham Soup

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