Split Pea Soup with Ham - The Defined Dish - Recipes (2024)

Home Recipes Dinner Split Pea Soup with Ham

By Alex

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Apr 24, 2019, Updated May 26, 2020

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Split Pea Soup with Ham - The Defined Dish - Recipes (2)I really love Split Pea Soup with Ham and grew up eating it. My Mom always made it when we had leftover ham after the holidays and I always looked forward to a warm, comforting bowl of it.

I do have a funny story about split pea soup though– after I gave birth to Winnie, I got home and my sweet Mother-In-Law asked me what I wanted to eat because she wanted to cook for me. Split pea soup was exactly what I wanted. She made us the BIGGEST pot of it and I was so happy. It was so good that I ate it for multiple days in a row. Meanwhile, sweet newborn baby Winnie tummy was hurting and she was so gassy and having a hard time pooping so I took her into the pediatrician and after many questions and looking at her– we decided it was because I was eating *way too much* split pea soup. So note to all you breastfeeding moms— don’t eat too much of anything. It upsets your baby’s tummy!

Split Pea Soup with Ham - The Defined Dish - Recipes (3)

I’ve taken the split pea soup I grew up eating and added my own little touches to it. This Split Pea Soup with Ham is one of my all-time favorite comforting bowls of soup and I just know you’ll love it!

Split Pea Soup with Ham - The Defined Dish - Recipes (4)

For more recipes like this, check out my Soups + Stews Recipe Round Up!

Ingredients

  • 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 cup yellow onion, diced (or 1/2 medium onion)
  • 3/4 cup carrot, diced (or 1 large carrot)
  • 3/4 cup celery, diced (or 2 large stalks)
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tsp kosher salt
  • 1/2 tsp freshly cracked black pepper
  • 1 lb split green peas, dried and rinsed, until the water runs clear
  • 2 cups ham, diced *see notes
  • 4 cups chicken broth
  • 4 cups water
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 5 sprigs fresh thyme
  • 1 tsp cajun seasoning
  • 1 lb yellow potatoes, peeled and diced into 1/4 inch cubes
  • 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
  • 1 tbsp fresh dill, parsley or thyme for garnish

Instructions

  • Heat a large pot over medium heat with the olive oil. Add the onion, carrot, celery and garlic. Season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring, until tender, about 4 minutes.

  • Add the split peas and ham. Stir to combine. Pour the chicken broth, water, bay leaves, thyme and cajun seasoning. Bring soup to a boil. Reduce to a simmer, cover, for 30 minutes.

  • Add the potatoes. Simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until the potatoes are tender, about 20 minutes.

  • Remove the bay leaves and thyme stems. Taste and adjust salt and pepper, as desired. Finish with fresh lemon juice and dill, for garnish. Serve and enjoy!

Notes

*If you are using leftover ham and have a ham bone, throw that in the soup while it's cooking for best results. I just remove it right before serving.

Reheating directions: I like to reheat mine on the stovetop in a saucepan and add a little extra broth to thin it out (as it tends to thicken even more after refrigerating).

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

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Dinner Gluten-Free Recipes Soups

Welcome! I’m Alex.

I’m a food lover sharing healthy, simple, delicious, recipes from my kitchen to yours. Here you’ll find lots of Whole30, lots of healthy, and a little indulgence here and there because…it’s all about balance y’all!

Get to know Alex

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27 Comments

  1. have you tried this in a crock pot?

    Reply

    1. I haven’t yet but I am sure it works great!

      Reply

  2. Split Pea Soup with Ham - The Defined Dish - Recipes (11)
    OMG this was unbelievable. I had no idea i liked split pea soup!

    Reply

  3. Split Pea Soup with Ham - The Defined Dish - Recipes (12)
    I LOVE this recipe for pea soup. I make it all the time & am so glad I found it! My mom always made a really great pea soup, but compared to this recipe it was plain. I never realized you could add so many different ingredients to spice it up & make it even heartier. My family doesn’t like the dill & lemon garnish so I add to my own bowl. Delicious!

    Reply

    1. Glad its a winner!! 🙂

      Reply

  4. Think I could use leftover pulled pork instead of ham for this recipe?

    Reply

    1. Yes, I think that would be a great swap!

      Reply

  5. Making this split pea soup now. I followed directions, but it’s nowhere near done after simmering for 50 minutes. Not sure why.

    Reply

  6. A little too salty, otherwise very good! Next time I make it, I’ll add the salt after cooking, if necessary at all. Ham is a very salty to begin with.

    Reply

    1. Yes, if your ham is already pretty salted you will want to use less or salt at the end as mentioned. Hope you enjoy!

      Reply

Split Pea Soup with Ham - The Defined Dish - Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What meat goes good with split pea soup? ›

Split pea soup with ham is one of my favorite soups of all time. The rich smoky flavor of the ham hock adds wonderful depth to the soup and is perfectly balanced by the sweet carrots. I always serve my split pea soup with garlic croutons because they just make it better!

What can I use to thicken a pea & ham soup? ›

Add flour or cornflour

Put a tablespoon of either into a small bowl and stir in 2-3 tbsp of the soup until you have a smooth mixture. Stir this back into the soup and bring it to a simmer. Cook for a few minutes to allow the starch granules to burst to thicken, and to cook out any flour flavour.

Why do you soak split peas before cooking? ›

To Soak or Not to Soak

It's true, soaking peas overnight in water shortens their cooking time. But soaking isn't entirely necessary. Split peas cook relatively quickly. Unsoaked peas take from 1 to 2 hours of simmering; soaked peas take about 40 minutes.

Should split pea soup be thin or thick? ›

The potato should make your split pea soup perfectly thick and creamy. However, if the soup is still too thin for your liking, you can thicken it up with full-fat cream (though it may alter the flavor a bit) or a cornstarch slurry.

What can I add to pea soup to make it taste better? ›

Add a bit of lemon zest to make those peas really sing. You can try the fresh pea approach with your favorite split pea soup recipe, but this super traditional, easy version is an Epicurious favorite.

What compliments split pea soup? ›

🥣 15 Best Ideas For What To Serve With Split Pea Soup 🥣
  • Meat. • 1 Air fryer grilled cheese sandwich. ...
  • Produce. • 1 Onion and goat cheese tart with thyme. ...
  • Baking & Spices. • 1 Parmesan crisps with thyme and sea salt.
  • Bread & Baked Goods. • 1 Cheese and garlic pull apart bread. ...
  • Dairy. • 1 Ham and cheese sliders. ...
  • Deli. ...
  • Other.

When to add cream to soup? ›

If you started the soup with broth, stock or water, I would wait until the end to add the cream. You can warm the cream, or “temper” it, which is what I do. Take about half a cup of the hot broth and slowly add your cream to that, stirring constantly.

Why did my split pea soup turn brown? ›

If you add to many peas its not a problem because you can add more water to thin it out a little. On the other hand if you don't put in enough and have to add more it will overcook the peas you put in first. If you cook peas for too long the soup turns a brown color more than a green color.

Why did my split pea soup get so thick? ›

Split pea soup naturally thickens as the peas break down during cooking and also as it sits, especially if refrigerated. If it's too thick for your liking, you can easily thin it by adding a bit of chicken or vegetable broth, or even water, until you reach your desired consistency.

What is the difference between Split pea soup and pea soup? ›

A recipe for "pea soup" from 1905 is made with split peas, salt pork and cold roast beef. The soup is strained through a sieve to achieve the desired texture. "Split pea soup" is a slightly thinner soup with visible peas and pieces of ham, especially popular in the Northeast, the Midwest and the Pacific Northwest.

How do you reduce gas in Split pea soup? ›

How do you make pea soup not gassy? Using Ayurvedic cooking methods, rinsing and soaking your peas before cooking, and eating them in a balanced meal help make pea soup not gassy.

What happens if you don't soak split peas? ›

A: Unlike meatier beans, such as dried pinto or white beans, there is no reason to soak split peas or lentils. Both are small, flat beans that will generally cook just fine without soaking first.

How much water do I use for 2 cups of split peas? ›

Cooking. Bring about 1.5 cups of water or broth to a boil for every cup of lentils or split peas. Add the lentils, allow water to return to boiling, reduce heat, partially cover pan, and simmer for 30 to 45 minutes, depending on the variety.

Can you overcook pea soup? ›

Update: If you overcook, the soup will get even thicker than usual! and turn a little bit of an olive drab color--it will still taste good though!"

Why is my split pea soup not mushy? ›

Why Are My Split Peas Not Softening? In this soup, the peas should be soft after about 1 to 1 1/2 hours cooking time. If you take a taste after this time and they haven't softened, your peas are likely stale. Buy a fresh batch before making the soup again.

What goes with split peas to make complete protein? ›

Health Benefits Of Split Peas

Peas have a low level of methionine (an essential amino acid), so this recipe calls for potatoes with higher levels of methionine. Together, they complement each other and make a complete protein!

What is the difference between split pea soup and pea soup? ›

A recipe for "pea soup" from 1905 is made with split peas, salt pork and cold roast beef. The soup is strained through a sieve to achieve the desired texture. "Split pea soup" is a slightly thinner soup with visible peas and pieces of ham, especially popular in the Northeast, the Midwest and the Pacific Northwest.

What can I add to bland split pea soup? ›

How do I add flavor to bland split pea soup? Using onions, garlic, and fresh spices like thyme will add flavor to the soup.

What is a substitute for ham hock in split pea soup? ›

Luckily, there is an option that is just as accessible as ham hock, which can be found in nearly any supermarket. Smoked turkey meat, sold generally as legs or wings, is a worthy substitute for ham hocks, providing a comparable level of savory meatiness and smokiness.

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