Split Pea Soup with Ham (Print)

Hearty split pea soup with ham and vegetables, rich flavor and perfect warmth for cool nights.

# Ingredients:

→ Meats

01 - 12 ounces smoked ham hock or diced cooked ham

→ Legumes

02 - 1 pound dried green split peas, rinsed

→ Vegetables

03 - 1 large onion, diced
04 - 2 carrots, peeled and diced
05 - 2 celery stalks, diced
06 - 2 garlic cloves, minced

→ Liquids

07 - 7 cups low-sodium chicken broth or water

→ Spices and Seasonings

08 - 2 bay leaves
09 - 1 teaspoon dried thyme
10 - 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
11 - Salt, to taste

→ Optional Garnishes

12 - Chopped fresh parsley
13 - Cracked black pepper

# Directions:

01 - Rinse split peas thoroughly under cold water and set aside for later use.
02 - In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat a small amount of cooking oil over medium heat. Add the diced onion, carrots, and celery. Sauté for approximately 5 minutes, or until the vegetables have softened.
03 - Stir in the minced garlic and continue to cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
04 - Add the rinsed split peas, ham hock (or diced ham), chicken broth, bay leaves, thyme, and black pepper to the pot. Stir well to ensure all ingredients are evenly distributed.
05 - Bring the mixture to a rolling boil over high heat. Once boiling, reduce the heat to low, cover the pot, and let it simmer for 1 hour, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
06 - Remove the lid from the pot and continue to simmer for an additional 20 to 30 minutes, or until the split peas have become tender and the soup has reached the desired consistency.
07 - Carefully remove the ham hock from the soup. Shred any edible meat from the bone and return the shredded meat to the soup. Discard the ham bone and bay leaves. If using pre-diced ham, this step can be omitted.
08 - Taste the soup and adjust the seasoning with salt and additional black pepper as needed to achieve your preferred flavor profile.
09 - Ladle the hot soup into bowls. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley and extra cracked black pepper, if desired.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • Ready in under 2 hours with minimal hands-on time
  • Uses pantry staples you likely already have
  • Packed with protein and fiber for a complete meal
  • Freezes beautifully for meal prep
02 -
  • Extremely high in fiber and protein making it nutritionally complete
  • Naturally gluten free when made with certified gluten free broth
  • Gets even better after a day in the refrigerator as flavors meld
  • Can be made ahead and frozen for up to 3 months
03 -
  • The thickness of split pea soup is entirely personal preference. For a thinner soup, add more broth during the final 30 minutes of cooking. For thicker soup, simmer uncovered longer or briefly blend a portion with an immersion blender. The soup will continue to thicken as it cools, so keep that in mind when adjusting consistency.

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