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–+ servings
Split Pea Soup

Split Pea Soup

A hearty homemade Split Pea Soup made with split peas, ham, and fresh vegetables, perfect for cold weather.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 45 minutes
Resting Time 10 minutes
Total Time 2 hours
Course Soup
Cuisine American
Servings 6 cups
Calories 250 kcal

Equipment

  • large pot
  • knife
  • cutting board

Ingredients
  

Vegetables

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1.5 cups chopped yellow onion (1 medium)
  • 1.25 cups chopped celery (about 3 ribs)
  • 1 teaspoon minced garlic (1 clove)
  • 1 cup chopped carrots
  • Chopped fresh parsley for garnish (optional)

Liquids

  • 4 cups unsalted chicken broth
  • 4 cups water

Peas and Seasoning

  • 1 bag (16 oz) dried split peas picked over and rinsed
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1.5 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme or ½ teaspoon dried
  • Salt to taste
  • freshly ground black pepper to taste

Meat

  • 1.5 lb meaty ham bone or ham shanks

Instructions
 

Cooking Instructions

  • Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add onion and celery and sauté for 3 minutes. Add garlic and sauté for 1 minute longer.
  • Pour in chicken broth and water. Add split peas, bay leaves, and thyme. Season lightly with salt and pepper to taste.
  • Nestle ham bone into soup mixture. Bring mixture to a boil, then reduce to low. Cover and let simmer, stirring occasionally until peas and ham are tender, about 60 - 80 minutes.
  • Remove ham from soup, let rest for 10 minutes then shred or dice meat portion into pieces.
  • Meanwhile, add carrots to soup. Cover soup and continue to simmer, stirring occasionally, until peas have mostly broken down, about 30 minutes longer.
  • Stir ham into soup, season with more salt as needed. Serve warm garnished with parsley if desired.

Notes

If desired, you can add in a couple of yellow or red potatoes when adding the diced carrot to the soup to make it even heartier. If the soup isn't thickening up, you can let it simmer uncovered for the last 30 minutes. Note that soup will thicken as it rests and cools slightly. If needed, it can be thinned with more water.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cupCalories: 250kcalCarbohydrates: 35gProtein: 16gFat: 5gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 20mgSodium: 600mgPotassium: 800mgFiber: 12gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 400IUVitamin C: 5mgCalcium: 60mgIron: 3mg
Keyword Comfort Food, fall recipes, Hearty Soup, homemade soup, Split Pea Soup, winter recipes
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