Ham and Spanish chorizo gives this fast and easy slow cooker soup a rich, smoky flavor that pairs perfectly with the tender vegetables and creamy split peas.
Diamonds might be a girl’s best friend but I’d like to suggest that a perfectly sharpened chefs knife is a close second. In fact, for my recent 34th birthday my husband took all of my cherished knives to a local shop to have them professionally sharpened – some for the first time in over 10 years. Cooking dinner has never been so thrilling!
Just like a good boot camp class or a long walk outdoors, slicing and dicing is one of my favorite forms of therapy. After a long day, there is nothing I love more than preparing dinner and I can’t think of anything more relaxing than a pile of produce, a laser-sharp knife and a good cutting board. A glass of wine doesn’t hurt either.
If you’ve ever felt lacking in the knife department or simply want to hone your skills, I have an exciting opportunity to share with all of you! I’ve partnered with Craftsy, the experts of online learning, to offer you a free class on Essential Knife Skills.
As a champion of healthy eating, I have always believed that most people want to eat better but don’t always have the necessary skills and techniques to feel confident in the kitchen. In the Complete Knife Skills class, Brendan McDermott, a professional culinary instructor, will walk you through all of the basic slice and dice varieties.
Not only will he show you how to properly dice an onion but he is full of little tips and tricks such as the secret to avoiding all of those onion fumes that make you tear up while cooking. No goggles required.
Since you get to take this class from the comfort of your own home, I’m sharing an easy recipe that will let you put all of those freshly prepared vegetables to good use.
My Slow Cooker Split Pea Soup with Chorizo & Ham is full of smoky flavor and bursting with hearty vegetables. Ideal for freezing, packing for lunches or served for dinner with crusty bread, you won’t want to miss this easy and fast soup recipe.
Your knife is waiting.
Slow Cooker Split Pea Soup
Ingredients:
- 1 large onion diced
- 2 ounces Spanish chorizo dried sausage finely chopped
- 8 ounces cooked ham cubed
- 1 cup dried split peas
- 3 carrots diced
- 2 celery stalks diced
- 6 cups chicken broth low sodium
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne optional
- salt and pepper to taste
- fresh parsley optional garnish
Instructions:
- Heat chorizo in a large saute pan (or oven-safe slow cooker insert) over medium heat and cook for 4-5 minutes allowing the oils to release.
- Add diced onion to the pan and cook with the chorizo until tender, 5-6 minutes, stirring frequently. Remove from heat and add to the slow cooker.
- Stir all remaining ingredients into the slow cooker (ham through cayenne) and heat on Low for 8 Hours or High for 4 Hours.
- Check for seasoning and adjust accordingly. Garnish with fresh parsley.
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Chorizo in split pea soup. A recipe after my heart!
Liz DellaCroce
I am on such a chorizo kick lately!
Lori @ RecipeGirl
What a delicious and comforting dinner! My family would love this.
Liz DellaCroce
My boys devoured it, Lori! I hope you try it!
Susan
Liz, thank you very much for the knife skills class! I’ve listened to the introduction (lesson 2), and the first thing I learned is that my favorite style of knife – santoku – is not equivalent to a chef knife. I may have to try a chef knife again once I get through the class – unless my Thai knife, which I love, qualifies…
Now I’m also hoping that I can find Spanish chorizo. Living on the border with Mexico pretty much guarantees that what I’ll find is the Mexican variety, and I know the two are different. BTW, I love that your instructions are for the kind of crock pot I got… :-)
Liz DellaCroce
I’m so glad you’re taking the class Susan!!!! I hope you love it. Also any type of chorizo would work but Spanish is already cooked. :)
Miss @ Miss in the Kitchen
This soup looks wonderful. I could totally use a class on knife skills- mine are totally lacking. Loved meeting you in person!!
Liz DellaCroce
It was so wonderful to finally meet you my friend!
Gaby
The addition of chorizo to split pea soup sounds awesome!
Krista @ Joyful Healthy Eats
I’ve definitely been wanting to hone my knife skills before I cut a finger off… so this is perfect and so is this soup! Wow! Love split pea but totally wouldn’t have thought of chorizo.. genius!
Liz DellaCroce
It’s funny – I cut my finger today on a knife – LOL!! I wish I was kidding. :) xoxo
Catalina @ Shades of Pink
I am actually looking for slow cooker recipes, I am so excite dto try this one, its so vibrant and it bursts with flavors!
Liz DellaCroce
Let me know what you think!
Angie | Big Bear's Wife
I totally agree. I’d much rather have an awesome knife set than diamods haha. Love the soup and the new design on the blog!!
Liz DellaCroce
YES!! Cheers to knives!! :)
Brenda @ a farmgirl's dabbles
Whenever I see soups with ham I ask myself why I don’t make soups with ham! I always love them!! Great soup, Liz.
Liz DellaCroce
It’s funny – I think the same whenever I think to buy ham outside of the big holidays. :)
Anne-Marie @ This Mama Cooks! On a Diet
Craftsy has a knife skills class? And it’s free? I need this! (And your soup looks oh so wonderful, too.)
Liz DellaCroce
Yes Anne-Marie!! The class is incredible! I hope you check it out. :)
Faith (An Edible Mosaic)
So true about a sharpened chefs knife set being a girl’s friend! It makes life so much easier.
LOVE split pea soup – it’s been one of my favs since I was a kid. :) This looks delicious!
Liz DellaCroce
It’s one of my childhood favorites too!! And yes, chefs knives are certainly a girls best friend.
Maria
Love the new site! Just fabulous!
Liz DellaCroce
Thank you so much Maria!!
Jenny Flake
Slow Cooker perfection going on here! Perfect for chilly months!
Liz DellaCroce
I’m so ready for soup season!
Lisa @ Garnish with Lemon
Oooh! I can’t wait to take this class! I totally need to brush up on my knife skills. And slow cooker soups are perfect for my weeknight meals!
Liz DellaCroce
I’ve taken knife classes in the past but it’s amazing how many new little tips I picked up. I hope you like it – let me know what you think!