Split Pea Soup With Ham
Warm up the family with a bowl of our delicious and healthy Split Pea and Ham Soup with Potatoes. This classic soup split pea soup recipe is easy to prepare, it's made with tender split peas, veggies, herbs, and savory ham bone, and the addition of diced potatoes makes it even more hearty. The sautéed onions, celery, and garlic create a delicious base for the broth, while the fresh thyme and bay leaves add a touch of earthy flavor. This hearty and comforting soup is sure to be a family favorite. I guarantee this will be the best split pea soup recipe that you'll ever try!
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 cups cubed potatoes
- 1 large yellow onion chopped
- 3 medium carrots chopped
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- 1 pound ham bone or ham hock
- 6 cups chicken or vegetable broth
- 2 cups water
- 1 pound dried yellow split peas rinsed, picked through, and drained
- 4 bay leaves
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
- 2 tablespoon parsley for garnish (optional)
- 2 tablespoon olive oil for drizzling (optional)
Instructions
- In a large Dutch oven or stock pot, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and carrots, and cook until the onion turns translucent and the carrots are slightly soft, it will about 5 minutes.
- Add the minced garlic and cook for an additional minute until nice and fragrant.
- Stir in the ham bone or ham hock, broth, water, split peas, potatoes, bay leaves, dried thyme, and dried rosemary, and bring the mixture to a boil.
- Reduce heat to low, cover, and let the soup simmer until the peas are tender and the flavors have melded, about 2 hours, stirring occasionally.
- Remove the ham bone or ham hock and shred any meat off it then add it back into the soup and give it a stir.
- Season with salt to taste and serve the soup hot, garnished with a drizzle of olive oil and a sprinkle of freshly chopped parsley, if desired.
Notes
- Feel free to use any other type of ham instead of ham bone such as ham shank to add flavor to the soup. You can also use smoked ham hock or even diced ham steak.
- Don't skip the step of rinsing and picking through the split peas before cooking. This will ensure there are no small stones or debris in your soup.
- If you prefer a smoother soup texture, you can puree a portion of it with an immersion blender or transfer it to a blender to puree.
- If your soup is too thick, you can thin it out by adding a bit of water or chicken stock.
- You can also adjust the seasonings to your liking by adding more salt or herbs. I didn't add black pepper to this split pea recipe because I want it to be kid-friendly but feel free to add it cooking for adults for extra flavor and taste.
- This split pea soup is delicious served with crusty bread or crackers. Topping it with crouton or freshly grated cheese is also a great option that adds a special finishing touch to the soup.