Split Pea Soup with Ham

Split pea soup is a thick and creamy soup loaded with fresh vegetables and delicious bits of ham. Full of comfort, this wonderful, hearty soup is easy to make and perfect to enjoy not only during soup season but any time of year!

Course Dinner, Soup

Cuisine American

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 1

Total Time 1 10

Servings servings

Calories 323kcal

Author Sherri Hagymas

Ingredients

2 cups split peas dried
2 tablespoons olive oil
½ cup onion diced
½ cup celery diced
½ cup carrot diced (or sliced)
4 cloves garlic minced
1 teaspoon thyme leaves fresh
8 cups vegetable broth
2 bay leaves
1 cup cooked ham diced

Instructions

Rinse the split peas in a colander under cold water.
2 cups split peas
In a large pot, add the olive oil and heat over medium heat.
2 tablespoons olive oil
Add the diced onion, carrot, and celery and cook for about 5 minutes, stirring often until they begin to soften.
½ cup onion, ½ cup celery, ½ cup carrot
Then add the garlic and thyme and sauté for another minute or two.
4 cloves garlic, 1 teaspoon thyme leaves
Pour in the broth and split peas and stir to combine well. Add the bay leaves and salt and pepper to taste.
8 cups vegetable broth, 2 bay leaves
Bring to a boil over medium-high heat then reduce the heat to low, cover the pot, and cook for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
After 30 minutes, add in the diced ham, cover again and cook for another 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
1 cup cooked ham
After an hour, test the peas to see if they’re tender. If they are not, cook for an additional 15-20 minutes.

Notes

Optional: Use an immersion blender to puree the soup for a thicker creamier soup. I like to puree about half of the soup so it has a rich, hearty consistency but still has some chunks of ham and veggies.

Store any leftover soup in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.

The soup can also be frozen for up to 3 months.You do not need to soak split peas other than rinsing them well.

Use vegetable oil or butter for sautéing if you'd like.

Substitute chicken broth or just water for the vegetable broth if desired.

For ease, I used cooked diced ham steak. You can also use a leftover ham bone and add it in with the with the broth, etc. so it has longer to cook. Remove the meat from the bone after cooking.

Nutrition