This Polish dill pickle soup with smoked ham is a hearty, savory, creamy, and comforting dish. A big pot of it can be on your table in only 45 minutes!
It’s not very often that I get excited by soup, but here we are. I’ve wanted to make my own version of the classic dish (zupa ogorkowa) for a while now. My mom makes pickle soup and so does our Polish friend, so it’s something that I enjoy periodically.
I can’t say I’ve ever had a pickle soup that didn’t hit the spot, and this version definitely left me wanting more (my husband finished most of it). 😛
I get that dill pickle soup would sound very weird if you hadn’t heard of it before. Obviously you won’t like it if you don’t like pickles.
If you do like pickles, give it a chance! I promise it’s delicious.
The smoked ham adds a special little something extra to this creamy pickle soup and also makes it more filling.
Perfect winter comfort food. Or anytime comfort food, really.
This comforting dill pickle soup recipe isn’t complicated, and the soup doesn’t take ages to cook, which is nice for busy weeknights.
Obviously I don’t mind spending time in the kitchen, but I think we can all appreciate quick meals that taste just as amazing the next day.
How to make pickle soup
Sauté the onions and carrots in a large soup pot; add the pickles, potatoes, chicken broth, pickle juice, Worcestershire sauce, garlic, dill, and ham to the pot.
Bring to a boil and then simmer the soup for 15-20 minutes or until the potatoes are cooked.
Mix the flour into the sour cream until smooth, then add it to the soup. Cook for another 5 minutes.
Serve with extra salt & pepper and more fresh dill if desired.
So. Dill pickle soup – yay or nay?
Will you be making this easy pickle soup recipe?
Let me know if you have any questions in the comments below!
Polish Dill Pickle Soup with Smoked Ham
A delicious tangy and comforting dill pickle soup recipe with smoked ham.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 medium onion chopped
- 1 cup finely chopped dill pickles
- 1 medium carrot grated
- 3 large red potatoes (skins on) diced
- 2 (10 fluid ounce) cans chicken broth
- 1 cup pickle juice
- 3 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- Handful fresh dill chopped
- 3/4 pound piece smoked ham diced
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1 tablespoon flour
- Salt & pepper to taste
Instructions
- Add the olive oil to a large pot on medium-high heat. Add the onion and carrot once the oil is hot. Sauté for 5 minutes.
- Add the remaining ingredients except for the sour cream and flour. Bring to a boil then reduce the heat to medium-low. Simmer for 15-20 minutes, or until the potatoes are tender.
- Mix the flour into the sour cream until you have a smooth mixture. Stir it into the soup and cook the soup for another 5 minutes. Season with salt & pepper to taste. Garnish with extra fresh dill if desired.
Recipe Notes
- This soup can turn out a bit salty for some people (depending on the salt in the pickle juice) so I suggest using low-sodium chicken broth if that's a concern for you.
- Serves 4-6.
Looking for other cozy winter soup recipes? Try my cauliflower and leek soup or my pumpkin and cauliflower soup with ginger.
Annie says
I have a quart of buttermilk that needs to be used up. Do you think I could substitute it for the sour cream and just add a bit more flour to thicken? Or would that alter the flavor too much?
Natasha says
Hi Annie! I don’t cook with buttermilk too often, so I can’t say for sure, but it seems pretty ingenious to me, so I’d give it a go! 🙂
Randi says
I’m wondering if I leave this to simmer for a few hours, will it turn out OK?
Natasha says
I’d say a low simmer with lid ajar would work fine. ❤️
Cindy Beals says
A dear family friend made a potato casserole with dill pickles and spicy breakfast sausage. We could never find the recipe, so when I stumbled upon your dill pickle soup recipe it sounded like a soup version of her potatoes. I substituted sausage for the smoked ham and was so excited when I had a spoonful of the soup! It was amazing and tasted just like Elna’s potatoes. Thanks for sharing the recipe!
Natasha says
I’m so pleased you like it, Cindy!! I love the idea of adding sausage into this soup… I will have to try it.
Bobbi | Bobbi's Kozy Kitchen says
OK, can I just say that looks insanely good? I love everything about this soup 😋
Natasha says
Thanks, Bobbi! You should definitely give it a try. 🙂
judy Mullendore says
I made this with Turkey bone broth and smoked turkey meat ( I work at a restaurant that specializes in everything Turkey) and our garlic dill pickles… It was a big hit .
Natasha says
Love your twist on the recipe! Thanks for letting me know!
Beth Ball says
So. I have NEVER had Polish food until I made a best friend that is as Polish as Polish can be, living in Chicago. Everytime I go visit, he makes me all the Polish foods- and I come back craving his food lol! So went to Pinterest to get some recipes and found this.
Made it.
Ate it.
Holy Yum.
So then I shared it on my FB with all my very American, west coast friends and they all made it, and shared it. Repeat. You and your soup are near famous over here.
So why am I telling you this long ol story? I am Director of Content for Twin Cities Kids Club (located in MN, 7000 FB followers). We are writing a blog about yummy soups, and would like to mention this. We will link back to this blog and your FB and Instagram- if you need anymore from us please don’t hesitate to email me!
And for real- Thank you for the deliciousness.
Natasha says
Polish food is delicious, isn’t it?! So glad you liked this soup. And that you told all your friends haha. 🙂 Happy new year!!
K. Anderson says
Excellent! Made this with half homemade dills/juice and half Bick’s Garlic Dills/juice and simmered broth with ham bone.
Natasha says
Yay!! Thanks for leaving a comment.
Dani says
Made this tonight in my instant pot. Turned out really yummy! I have a multi generation household and this soup is now a favorite of my 82 yr old mom and 3 yr old grandson. My grandson usually hates pickles won’t even eat them on hamburgers but really loved the soup asked for seconds! My mom who is a really picky eater said this was her new favorite! Thanks so much for the recipe!
Natasha says
That’s wonderful to hear, Dani! So glad everyone liked it. 🙂
Karol says
I want to make this in my instapot too. How long did you set timer for?
Natasha says
Hi Karol! I don’t own a pressure cooker, so I am really not sure how long it would take in one.
Jennifer says
Do you think it would taste ok using sweet potatoes vs. white potatoes?
Natasha says
Hmm… it’s hard to say. It’ll definitely be sweeter, but I don’t see why it wouldn’t work if you’re ok with that. 🙂
Monica M says
This recipe is delicious! My daughter doesn’t like pickles and she had three bowls. I am currently eating low-carb meals so we substituted radishes for the potatoes and no one knew it had radishes. Note: the radishes need a about 10 min. longer than potatoes
Natasha says
I’m so glad you all liked it!! Subbing radishes for the potatoes is a great idea. Happy holidays!
Joyanne says
Making this tonight. My entire house loves pickles, so Im sure it will be a hit. I doubled the recipe tho as there are 7 of us!
Natasha says
Hope you guys all love it!! 🙂
Carol says
This soup is delicious! I’ve made it at least 6 times in 4 months. Everyone makes a face when you say pickle soup… then they taste it and they love it. I’ve given out the recipe 4 times Thank you for sharing!.
Natasha says
Your comment made my day! I am so glad you like it, Carol! 🙂 And thanks for sharing the recipe too.
Melissa says
Could you use bacon instead of ham??
Natasha says
I don’t see why not. 😊
Tracyanna says
I made this soup yesterday and it turned out delicious. It was very good. However when I added all the ingredients, there was barely any liquid so I ended up adding a lot more chicken broth and the potatoes needed to simmer for a really long time. But it turned out great because the pickles softened which I liked. And even though I mixed the flour into the sour cream, I got worried because it was really hard to get it to completely melt in the soup. Almost thought I ruined it lol. But I am definitely making this again because it was such a unique and delicious flavor. Thank you.
Natasha says
Hi Tracyanna, so glad you enjoyed it! I’m thinking I possibly sliced my potatoes a bit smaller and used a smaller pot, which could account for the differences. Sometimes flour can be a bit stubborn! I’m so glad it all worked out, though. 🙂
Kim says
I am excited to try this tonight. Do you by any chance have a recipe for meatloaf with dill gravy? I have been searching forever! There was a restaurant in Downers Grove, IL that used to serve it…soooo good!
Natasha says
I hope you enjoy it, Kim! Sorry, no recipe for meatloaf with dill gravy, but that does sound tasty!!
Mary Ann | The Beach House Kitchen says
I have never heard of this Polish soup Natasha, but I’m totally intrigued! Considering my love for pickles, I’ll definitely need to try it!
Natasha says
Let me know what you think! ????
sue | theviewfromgreatisland says
This sounds, and looks soooooo good, I think I’m going to make it tonight!
Natasha says
Thanks, Sue!! I hope you like it! 🙂
Natasha's Sister says
Why would you make this with ham? Srsly. Make me a version without it. Now.
Natasha says
No.
Suzie Q says
I agree with Natasha. The ham is like the “bacon” that makes every recipe sooo much better. It adds depth.
ellarn says
I used smoked turkey and the broth I made from the carcass, same sweet smoky flavors, but no pork