Split Pea Soup with Ham Recipe (2024)

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Katerina

4.75 from 20 votes

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This easy Split Pea Soup with Ham is a hearty and delicious homemade soup prepared with tender split peas, veggies, and smoked ham.

Split Pea Soup with Ham Recipe (2)

I love classic recipes! The tried-and-true favorites are often fun and easy to master, and they’re so rewarding to serve up to a hungry tribe. This split pea soup is definitely one of those recipes, thanks to its delicate but smoky flavor and delicious hearty texture.

    Why We Love This Soup

    • Classic Comfort: This split pea soup is a time-honored recipe that’s enjoyable to make and serve.
    • Unique Flavor: Offers a smoky taste with the natural sweetness of split peas.
    • Hearty Texture: The soup has a hearty yet light texture, with split peas providing natural thickness.
    • Budget-Friendly: Made with affordable split peas, it’s a nutritious and economical meal option.
    Split Pea Soup with Ham Recipe (3)

    What Are Split Peas?

    Split peas are a legume, often prepared in saucy or soupy dishes. The flavor is mild and slightly sweet, perfect for various spices! In this simple split pea soup, we’ll use basic ingredients like carrots, onions, ham, and earthy herbs.

    Ingredients For Split Pea Soup

    • Butter & Olive Oil: I use a tablespoon of butter and a tablespoon of olive oil for sautéing.
    • Celery: You’ll need three celery stalks, diced.
    • Carrots: Along with the celery, dice up two small carrots.
    • Onion: For the onion, you can go with any type, but I usually use yellow onion.
    • Garlic: Mince or press three cloves of fresh garlic.
    • Broth: Have ready 6 cups of low-sodium chicken broth. If you’d like to substitute, this recipe also works well with vegetable broth or homemade bone broth.
    • Water: You’ll need two cups of water in addition to the broth.
    • Split Peas: You can use green or yellow dried split peas; green is most common. Either way, 16 ounces are needed for this recipe.
    • Bay Leaves: Two medium bay leaves give a classic homemade flavor.
    • Dried Thyme & Oregano: Use one teaspoon of each.
    • Salt & Pepper: To taste.
    • Ham: I recommend ham hocks or a meaty ham bone.
    Split Pea Soup with Ham Recipe (4)
    Split Pea Soup with Ham Recipe (5)

    How to Make Split Pea Soup with Ham

    1. Cook Veggies: In a large pot, melt butter with olive oil over medium-high heat. Sauté chopped celery, carrots, and onions for 4 minutes, then add garlic for 1 minute.
    2. Add Ingredients: Add chicken broth, water, split peas, thyme, oregano, salt, pepper, bay leaves, and ham bone. Caution: go light on salt as the ham is salty!
    3. Cook: Bring to a boil, then simmer covered for 1 hour and 20 minutes, checking at the one-hour mark for doneness.
    4. Chop Ham: Remove ham bone carefully (avoid splatters), let cool, then shred or chop the meat, discarding bones or skin.
    5. Finish Soup: Return ham to soup, cook for 1 minute, and adjust seasoning if needed. If too salty, add water to dilute it. Ladle into bowls and serve it garnished with parsley.
    Split Pea Soup with Ham Recipe (6)

    Recipe Tips And Variations

    • Sort: Raw split peas, like other legumes, should always be rinsed and sorted before eating. “Sorting” means looking through the peas to remove damaged ones or the occasional small pebble.
    • Rinse: Raw split peas should be rinsed in a large mesh sieve. They are so small that they often run right out of the holes in a colander.
    • Change It: Split Pea Soup can work with almost any add-ins, from curry sauce to potatoes to fresh crab meat. Some people also love adding fresh English peas to their soup.
    • Use Cubed Ham: If you’d rather not use ham hocks or a ham bone, you can still get the flavor by simply stirring cubed ham into the simmering soup.
    • Use Up Leftovers: Split pea soup is also great with leftover corned beef, sliced sausage, bacon crumbles, or no meat at all.
    • Crockpot Option: Exclude the 2 cups of water and parsley, and add all the other ingredients to a 6-quart slow cooker. Cook on Low for 8 hours or on High for 5 hours. Remove the ham, shred it or chop it, and return it to the soup. Garnish with parsley and serve.

    What To Serve With Soup

    A simple grilled cheese is perfect with a split pea soup, but you could also go with a Reuben Sandwich or a Panzanella Sandwich. There’s nothing like homemade Cornbread for a cozy side or this quick Naan to sop up all that soupy goodness. But also, soft, fresh-baked Pretzel Bites make this meal a super-special treat!

    Split Pea Soup with Ham Recipe (7)

    How to Store and Reheat Leftovers

    • To store leftovers, place the soup in an airtight container and refrigerate it for up to 4 days, or freeze it for up to 4 months.
    • To reheat it, place the desired amount into a saucepan and cook over medium heat until piping hot, stirring frequently.

    More Soup Recipes to Try

    • Chicken Noodle Soup
    • Easy Lentil Soup
    • Creamy Crack Chicken Soup
    • Ham Sweet Potato Soup
    • Turkey Noodle Soup

    Split Pea Soup with Ham Recipe (8)

    Easy Split Pea Soup with Ham

    Katerina | Diethood

    Smoky, hearty, and full of protein, this Easy Split Pea Soup with Ham is a meal worth savoring!

    4.75 from 20 votes

    Servings : 8

    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save

    Prep Time 15 minutes mins

    Cook Time 1 hour hr 15 minutes mins

    Total Time 1 hour hr 30 minutes mins

    Ingredients

    • 1 tablespoon butter
    • 1 tablespoon olive oil
    • 3 celery stalks, diced
    • 2 carrots, diced
    • 1 small yellow onion, diced
    • 3 cloves garlic, minced
    • 6 cups low sodium chicken broth
    • 2 cups water
    • 1 bag (16 ounces) dried split peas
    • 2 bay leaves
    • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
    • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
    • salt and fresh ground black pepper, to taste
    • pound ham hocks or a meaty ham bone
    • chopped fresh parsley, for garnish

    Instructions

    • Heat olive oil and melt butter in a large pot or Dutch oven set over medium-high heat.

    • Add chopped celery, carrots, and onions; cook for 4 minutes. Stir in garlic and cook for 1 minute.

    • Stir in chicken broth and water.

    • Stir in split peas, bay leaves, thyme, and oregano; season with salt and pepper. Don’t use too much salt because the ham hocks are already salty.

    • Add ham hocks to the pot and bring mixture to a boil.

    • Reduce heat to low, cover the pot, and let simmer for about 1 hour and 15 minutes. Stir occasionally. The soup is ready when the peas are soft. Start checking it for doneness around the 55-minute mark.

    • Remove ham from soup and let rest for several minutes, or until cooled enough to handle. Then, shred or chop up the meat into smaller pieces. Discard bones and skin.

    • Add chopped ham back into the soup. Cook for a minute.

    • Remove from heat. Taste the soup for salt and pepper and adjust accordingly.

    • Ladle the soup into bowls, garnish with parsley, and serve.

    Notes

    • Ham Alternatives: If you don’t have a ham bone, you could use diced ham or even smoked sausage for a different twist on flavor.
    • Adjusting Consistency: If the soup is too thick for your liking, you can add more broth or water to reach the desired consistency. If it’s too thin, let it simmer uncovered for a little longer.
    • Vegetarian Version: You can make a vegetarian version by omitting the ham and using vegetable broth instead of chicken broth.
    • Spice It Up: Feel free to add more herbs or spices to taste, such as a pinch of cayenne for heat or some fresh rosemary for depth.
    • Avoid Over-Salting: Since the ham (especially if cured or smoked) adds saltiness, taste as you go, adding salt gradually as needed.
    • Storing and Reheating: This soup freezes well. Store in airtight containers for up to three months. Reheat on the stove, adding a bit of water or broth if it’s too thick after freezing.
    • Slow Cooker Option: If you prefer, you can make this soup in a slow cooker, excluding the 2 cups of water, and adjust the cooking time to 5 hours on high or 8 hours on low.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1.5 cups | Calories: 500 kcal | Carbohydrates: 40 g | Protein: 38 g | Fat: 21 g | Saturated Fat: 8 g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2 g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10 g | Trans Fat: 0.1 g | Cholesterol: 81 mg | Sodium: 276 mg | Potassium: 1086 mg | Fiber: 16 g | Sugar: 6 g | Vitamin A: 2754 IU | Vitamin C: 4 mg | Calcium: 77 mg | Iron: 4 mg

    Nutritional info is an estimate and provided as courtesy. Values may vary according to the ingredients and tools used. Please use your preferred nutritional calculator for more detailed info.

    Course: Dinner

    Cuisine: American

    Keyword: homemade soup, pea and ham soup, split pea soup with ham hock

    Did you make this recipe?Leave a Rating!

    Categories:

    • Dinner Recipes
    • Lunch
    • Pork Recipes
    • Recipes
    • Soups
    Split Pea Soup with Ham Recipe (2024)

    FAQs

    How do you make pea soup taste better? ›

    Yellow onion, celery, carrots and garlic – these vegetables built up the background flavors of the soup. They add some nice color too. Chicken broth and water – I like to use half chicken broth and half water (vs. all broth) so it doesn't overpower the delicate flavor of the peas.

    What thickens split pea soup? ›

    How to Thicken Split Pea Soup. The potato should make your split pea soup perfectly thick and creamy. However, if the soup is still too thin for your liking, you can thicken it up with full-fat cream (though it may alter the flavor a bit) or a cornstarch slurry.

    How many calories in 1 cup homemade split pea with ham soup? ›

    Split Pea And Ham Soup (1 cup) contains 28.3g total carbs, 24g net carbs, 4.2g fat, 11.7g protein, and 195 calories.

    Do you have to soak split peas before cooking? ›

    No. Split peas, like lentils, do not need to be soaked before cooking. Beans require soaking prior to cooking, but because these are peas they can be used directly in the recipe. It is still a good idea to rinse your peas thoroughly before cooking to remove any dirt particles.

    How to add flavor to split pea soup? ›

    Using a Ham Bone:

    Using a meaty, uncleaned ham bone is what gives this soup it's amazingly rich and savory flavor. If your ham bone is small, or you are using a ham bone substitute: Be prepared to add up to 4 chicken bouillon cubes to the broth to add more flavor if needed.

    How do you add flavor to a bland split pea soup? ›

    Using onions, garlic, and fresh spices like thyme will add flavor to the soup. The real trick to making a bland pea soup extra tasty is using a bone or ham hock in the soup during the cooking process. Chicken broth will also add flavor to the soup.

    How do you fix bland split pea soup? ›

    The common denominator will probably be meat (ham bones are common), more salt, and pepper to taste. If you want to take a shortcut, you could use bouillon cubes or paste to provide both meaty flavor and salt, though pork is a lot harder to find than chicken or beef. Salt and pepper you can just stir in.

    How much water do I use for 2 cups of split peas? ›

    Cooking. Bring about 1.5 cups of water or broth to a boil for every cup of lentils or split peas. Add the lentils, allow water to return to boiling, reduce heat, partially cover pan, and simmer for 30 to 45 minutes, depending on the variety.

    Why does my split pea soup taste sour? ›

    A lot of types of bacteria (and sometimes other microbes) produce waste products that can taste "sour." And soup/stock is a good growth medium for microbes, which is why most food safety organizations recommend only keeping soup for 3-4 days in the fridge.

    Is pea and ham soup good for you? ›

    It's fair to say that pea and ham soup is good for the soul, but it is also good for your health. Green split peas are a nutritional powerhouse. Not only are they low in fat and high in fibre, they are also a complete protein, which means they contain all nine essential amino acids.

    Is split pea soup healthy for weight loss? ›

    Is split pea soup good for weight loss? Yes, it is good for weight loss, as it contains a high amount of fiber supporting metabolism activities, which leads to healthier weight loss. It also includes a lower amount of fat and calories, reducing cholesterol levels and improving overall health.

    Is split pea soup full of carbs? ›

    Split pea soup

    Peas are starchy veggies, which means you'll be getting a hefty amount of carbs (26 grams per cup) along with other nutrients like fiber. Many soups also have a lot of salt, so pick reduced-sodium varieties.

    Should split pea soup be thin or thick? ›

    The starches and the gelatin will form a mesh when cooling, so the consistency of the pea-soup will always be thick when cold. On heating, do what Mien advised: add some water or broth to the soup to the consistency that you want.

    What is the difference between split pea soup and pea soup? ›

    A recipe for "pea soup" from 1905 is made with split peas, salt pork and cold roast beef. The soup is strained through a sieve to achieve the desired texture. "Split pea soup" is a slightly thinner soup with visible peas and pieces of ham, especially popular in the Northeast, the Midwest and the Pacific Northwest.

    What happens if you don't soak split peas? ›

    Peas cook faster than beans, and - like beans - they don't have to be soaked at all, but not soaking affects the cooking time. An hour or two of soaking is plenty for whole green or yellow peas…they don't need to go overnight like beans typically do.

    How to jazz up pea soup? ›

    Onion, lots of garlic, bay leaves, oregano and thyme make this soup taste amazing. We recommend using fresh thyme for the best taste.

    How do you doctor up canned split pea soup? ›

    For a variation, add 1/2 teaspoon dried tarragon and 3 tablespoons of white wine to the soup instead of the garam masala. No ham on hand? Fry up some bacon and crumble it on top of the soup. A pale ale or an Alsatian gewurztraminer teams well with the spicy soup.

    What can I add to my soup to make it tastier? ›

    Use fresh vegetables, high-quality meats or broth, and fresh herbs to add depth of flavor. Add acidity: A squeeze of lemon or lime juice, a dash of vinegar, or a splash of wine can brighten the flavors of a soup and make it taste more complex.

    How do you fix the taste of soup? ›

    Herbs: Fresh chives, thyme, or cilantro stirred in just before serving. Spices: Your soup is probably salty enough, but what about simmering a bay leaf in there for a while (don't forget to remove it before serving)? Depending on the soup's flavor profile, you could shake in some cumin or red pepper flakes.

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