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This classic split pea soup recipe is a favorite, it’s really easy to make with a bag of split peas, a handful of veggies and ham simmered until tender and thick.
This soup is just as good (if not better) the next day and it freezes beautifully for future meals.
A Family Favorite Soup
Pea soup is a recipe that has been a staple for generations.
- It has a thick creamy consistency and delicious flavor.
- It’s made without cream so it has fewer calories than most creamy soups.
- Uses simple ingredients you likely have on hand and it’s budget-friendly.
- It is full of fiber and protein, so it will really fill you up.
Ingredients for Split Pea Soup
Split Peas – Dried split peas are inexpensive and easy to find. While they resemble a lentil, they’re actually a type of dried pea. You can use green or yellow split peas. Canadian Split Pea soup is most often made with yellow peas but green are a little bit sweeeter.
Vegetables – A mirepoix is a mixture of onion, celery, and carrots and this is the base of flavor for this soup. Add a few cloves of chopped garlic if you’d like.
Ham – This soup is a great way to use a ham bone or leftover ham from a Sunday supper. The ham bone adds extra flavor to the broth if you have one. If you don’t have a ham bone, replace some of the water for extra broth as you’ll need the boost of flavor.
Broth – A ham bone adds extra flavor to the the broth just like in a ham bone soup. If you don’t have a ham bone you can use ham hock which should be simmered for an hour before adding other ingredients.
Variations
- To stretch this soup further, peel and dice two russet potatoes and add them along with the other vegetables.
- Replace the ham with smoked turkey if you’d like.
Soaking Split Peas
Split peas are almost always purchased dried, so they need to be either simmered in liquid or soaked overnight.
Soaking is not required for this recipe but if you have already soaked the peas, the cooking time will be reduced by about 40 minutes.
If you’d like to soak the split peas place them in a bowl of cool water and soak for at least 4 hours or up to overnight.
How to Make Split Pea Soup
The best Split pea soup is thick, creamy and flavorful. This version is a ham and pea soup and it’s easy to make, most of the time is hands off.
- Simmer peas, ham, water, broth, parsley, & bay leaf in a large pot for an hour.
- Add remaining ingredients (per recipe below) and simmer for an additional 45 minutes.
- Remove ham bone (or ham) & chop up the meat. Return ham to the pot & cook on low until thickened.
Tips for The Best Ham & Split Pea Soup
- Like dried beans, dried peas should be sorted to remove debris or pebbles. Place them in a colander and rinse them in cold water.
- Split pea soup can be cooked in a slow cooker or a pressure cooker.
- Thicken split pea soup by allowing it to simmer uncovered for a little bit longer. If you’re short on time, some of the peas can be mashed or blended with an immersion blender.
- Store cooked split pea soup in the refrigerator for up to 4 days for freeze for up to 3 months.
More Ham Soups
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Split Pea Soup
Split pea soup is the perfect way to use up leftover ham. Split peas and ham are simmered in a delicious chicken broth to create a thick and hearty soup!
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Sort through the peas to ensure there is no debris. Rinse and drain well.
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In a large pot, combine peas, ham, water, broth, parsley, and bay leaf. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, and simmer covered for 1 hour.
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Add in celery, carrots, onion, pepper, thyme, and salt. Cover and simmer 45 minutes more.
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Remove ham bone and chop the meat. Return the meat to the soup and cook uncovered until thickened and the peas have broken down and the soup has thickened, about 20 minutes more.
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Discard the bay leaf and season with salt and additional pepper to taste.
- This recipe does not require soaking the peas.
- If desired, add 2 cloves of minced garlic along with the vegetables.
- The meaty ham bone and be replaced with diced or chopped leftover ham. Replace at least 2 cup sof the water with additional broth for flavor if you do not have a hambone.
- Thicken split pea soup by allowing it to simmer uncovered for longer. If you’re short on time, some of the peas can be mashed or blended.
- Store cooked split pea soup in the refrigerator for about 4 days or freeze up to 3 months.
Serving: 1.5cups | Calories: 365 | Carbohydrates: 45g | Protein: 27g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 29mg | Sodium: 900mg | Potassium: 1009mg | Fiber: 18g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 4211IU | Vitamin C: 11mg | Calcium: 77mg | Iron: 4mg
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
Course Dinner, Entree, Ham, Lunch, Main Course, Soup
Cuisine American© SpendWithPennies.com. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited. Please view my photo use policy here.
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