Split pea soup is a hearty soup full of fresh veggies including, of course, green split peas, and a bunch of succulent ham. I went ahead and used a meaty ham bone and some leftover ham meat from another meal. The wonderful savory flavor and texture was so good, I included them both as part of the recipe. It may not be the prettiest thing you will ever eat, but it makes a great meal for the whole family and is so comforting on a chilly day! Serve this soup with a crusty slice of rye bread and butter and some chocolate puffs for dessert! Looking for more comforting soup recipes? Some of our favorites are Wisconsin Cauliflower Soup, Homemade Tomato Basil Soup, and Better-Than-Panera Broccoli Cheese Soup.
Why We Love This Recipe
Use your favorite seasonal veg or seasonings in this split pea soup recipe, Fresh vegetables are always the way to go, especially in soups, and meat eaters will love their dose of rich proteins here too! While this soup has a long cooking time, it’s a simple recipe with not too much hands-on time.
What You’ll Need
Scroll down to the recipe card below this post for ingredient quantities and full instructions.
Broth – I’m using vegetable broth for the base of the soup but water or chicken broth would work too. Use half low sodium chicken broth and half water for a fuller flavor in this soup. Traditionally, only water is used, but I love using chicken stock in soups! Peas – Dried split peas are the star of the show when it comes to split pea soup! They don’t need to be soaked before cooking–just rinse them well and you’re ready to go. Also keep in mind that split peas are not the same as green peas and they can be found bagged next to the dried beans at the grocery store. Ham – We’ll be leftover diced ham so this is a great recipe to make with your leftovers from a holiday dinner. Vegetables – Onion, carrot, celery, and garlic are key to any great soup and this one is no exception! Seasoning – Fresh thyme pairs perfectly with the peas to flavor the soup. Bay leaves add a subtle earthy, woody flavor to the soup that enhances the natural flavors of the peas and ham. Olive oil – This helps saute the vegetables so they don’t burn. Feel free to use butter or your favorite neutral cooking oil.
How to Make Split Pea Soup
Tips for Success
This is an “easy” split pea soup for a reason–we’re using cooked diced ham! If you have a ham bone on hand and want to use it, add it to the soup before simmering in Step 5. Then allow the ham bone to cook with the soup. Remove the bone and shred the meat before serving. Also, a smoked ham hock will give your soup a smoky flavor which goes perfectly with split peas and other savory vegetables if you prefer to use one of those. Make this soup a complete meal by serving it with some Garlic Bread, or Herby Artisan Bread on the side. Serve with a drizzle of olive oil and some lemon zest for an extra fresh flavor! This is one of my favorite soups during the winter months, so why not serve it in a Homemade Soup Bowl for a fancy presentation during the holidays?
Substitutions and Variations
Vegetable broth would also work well for this soup, instead of chicken. Use turnips or even sweet potatoes instead of regular potatoes. Other veggies that would work well in this soup are broccoli, celery stalks, or parsnip. For a creamy soup, serve with some sour cream or greek yogurt. Add Worcestershire sauce to add extra flavor that is tangy, sweet, and salty. A teaspoon of smoked paprika will go a long way to add a smoky depth to the soup. Liquid smoke is always a great way to add to the smoky flavors too.
More Soup Recipes You’ll Love
Slow Cooker Tuscan White Bean Soup Creamy Leftover Turkey Wild Rice Soup Creamy Irish Leek and Potato Soup Zuppa Toscana Crockpot or Stovetop Soup Cheeseburger Soup with Bacon
Chicken Noodle Soup with Egg Noodles and Dumplings
Corn Chowder
Easy Minestrone Soup
Let me know what you thought with a comment and rating below. You can also take a picture and tag me on Instagram @houseofnasheats or share it on the Pinterest pin so I can see.
