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Split Pea Soup With Ham

Name: Split Pea Soup With Ham
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 55 min
Ingredients: 3 carrots (diced); 1 medium onion (diced); 2 celery stalks (diced); 1 teaspoon dried oregano; 2 leaves bay; 3 cloves garlic (minced); 2 cups split green peas (dried and sorted); 1 smoked ham hock (or ham or bacon); 4 cups chicken broth (low sodium); 2 cups water; salt and pepper to taste; Balsamic vinegar (optional garnish)

LIZ DELLA CROCE

12/26/2023

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Updated:

01/13/2025

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This stovetop split pea soup with ham recipe takes minutes to prepare and can simmer all afternoon. Warm, delicious, and loaded in fiber and protein.

Table of Contents

Anyone else love soup season as much as I do? Whether it’s my Split Pea Soup or 15 Bean Soup with Ham, soup is healthy, affordable, and oh-so-comforting, I love getting cozy with a warm bowl of soup as the temps drop. Granted, you know I still enjoy soup when it’s warm outside. But soup is a great way to use up any leftovers you may have sitting in your fridge! That’s one way you can make my Split Pea Soup with Ham, which is hearty, smoky, and full of chunky vegetables. The best part is that it literally takes minutes to prepare, and can sit and simmer all afternoon.

Ingredients

Carrots: A bit sweet in flavor, carrots are hearty so they hold up well in soups. They’re also a great source of many vitamins, including vitamin A and antioxidants.
Onion: I use a yellow onion usually, as it caramelizes quickly and is mild in flavor.
Celery: While it doesn’t add much in flavor, celery really shows up with it’s nutritional value. Great source of fiber, vitamin A, vitamin K, and folate.
Oregano: Earthy, somewhat minty, and pungent flavor for the soup.
Bay leaves: While you don’t eat a bay leaf, adding them to your soups and stews adds a wonderful aromatic flavor to the broth.
Garlic: Pungent, nutty, somewhat spicy flavor, cooking the garlic helps it to sweeten.
Split green peas: Split peas are shelled, dried, and split, making them easy to store, and easy to cook later! Earthy and savory in taste, they’re a great source of protein and fiber.
Ham hock: Great for soups and stews, because the meat is still on the bone, it adds stronger flavor. However, you can use ham of any kind. I feel like leftover ham from Christmas or Easter is great for this dish.
Chicken broth: I always use low sodium broth, but it makes for a flavorful base for the soup.

How to Make Split Pea Soup with Ham

Prepare for your split pea soup with ham by preparing your vegetables. Peel and dice your onion and carrots, and chop your celery.

Then in the bottom of a large pot, spray with cooking spray or some olive oil and sauté the onion, celery, and carrots until onion begins to caramelize..

Season with salt and black pepper. Then stir in the oregano, garlic, and bay leaves and continue to sauté until aromatic.

Then add the split peas and the ham to the pot.

Pour in the broth and water and bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for about 45 minutes until peas are tender.

Check for seasoning, remove the bay leaves and any bones, then serve and enjoy your Split Pea Soup with Ham! Refrigerate or freeze any leftovers in an airtight container.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you cook split peas without soaking?

Soaking your split peas overnight can reduce cook time, but isn’t necessary. Some say that it helps make them easier to digest as well.

What is a ham hock?

The ham hock is a part of the pig’s leg, and is a kind of bone-in pork product you can find at the grocery store. They are also called pork knuckles in some areas.

What can I substitute ham hock with?

You can easily use pork shank or ham bone instead of a ham hock, depending on what you can find.

More Hearty Soups

Eat It, Like It, Share It!

Did you try this soup recipe? The next time you make it, snap a picture and share it to your socials! Tag @thelemonbowl and #thelemonbowl so we can admire and share your meal.

A simple way to feed your family, you could also try it in the slow cooker! However you make it, I know you’ll enjoy my Split Pea Soup with Ham.

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Hi, I’m Liz!

Hey there, I’m Liz Della Croce and I’m thrilled to have you here! My aim is to motivate and ignite your passion for cooking amazing meals for your loved ones. I believe in the power of real, wholesome ingredients that are bursting with flavor and won’t break the bank. Whether it’s a traditional Lebanese recipe from my family or a culinary creation from across the globe, you’ll be pleasantly surprised to discover that nutritious food can be exciting, affordable, and easy to prepare.

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4.46 from 24 votes (15 ratings without comment)

24 responses to “Split Pea Soup With Ham”

Herbie

Much better pureed. Remove the ham hock & cut & shred it before returning it to the pot.

Reply
Denise

Hi! What do you mean by dried and sorted for the split peas? Also do you pull the meat off the ham hock after simmering for 45 minutes? Your soup looks like it has chunks of ham in it! Looks so good! Thanks!

Reply
1. Liz DellaCroce
  
  You want to sort through the split peas to make sure no rocks! Yes i would pull the meat off when it’s tender. :)
  
  Reply