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5 from 1 vote

Split Pea Soup with Ham

This cozy split pea soup recipe uses leftover ham, tender split peas, basic veggies and pantry staples to create a rich and comforting soup that’s full of flavor.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time1 hour 15 minutes
Total Time1 hour 30 minutes
Course: Soup
Cuisine: American
Keyword: budget friendly, gluten free, pork
Servings: 6 -8 servings
Author: Ali

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 medium yellow onion diced
  • 2 medium carrots diced
  • 2 medium celery ribs diced
  • 5 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 pound dried green split peas rinsed
  • 1 leftover ham bone (or a small ham hock)
  • 8 cups chicken broth
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper plus more to taste
  • 1 cup (8 ounces) diced smoked ham slices
  • fine sea salt to taste
  • optional garnishes: chopped fresh parsley extra diced ham, croutons

Instructions

  • Sauté the veggies. Heat the olive oil in a large stockpot over medium-high heat. Add the onion, carrots, and celery and sauté for 5–6 minutes, stirring occasionally, until softened. Add the garlic and sauté, stirring frequently, for 1 minute more.
  • Simmer. Stir in the split peas, ham hock, broth, bay leaf, thyme, and black pepper. Bring to a gentle boil, then reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer for 60–75 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the peas are very soft and beginning to break down.
  • Adjust seasoning. Stir in the cooked ham and remove the bay leaf. Taste and season with additional black pepper or salt as needed. (Ham bones or hocks can vary significantly in terms of saltiness, so you may or may not need to add salt.)
  • Serve. Ladle warm soup into bowls, garnish with a twist of black pepper and any desired garnishes, and enjoy!