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–+ servings

Hearty Homemade Split Pea Soup with Smoky Ham

This rich and hearty split pea soup features a delicious smoky flavor from ham and comes together with simple pantry ingredients. Perfect for using up leftover ham, this soup becomes thick and creamy without any added dairy, making it both satisfying and nutritious.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 45 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Soup
Cuisine: American
Calories: 374
Ingredients Method Nutrition

Ingredients
  

  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 1 large onion finely diced
  • 2 carrots finely diced
  • 2 celery stalks finely diced
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 pound dried green split peas rinsed and sorted
  • 1 pound ham diced (leftover ham works perfectly)
  • 1 ham bone or ham hock optional but adds incredible flavor
  • 6 cups low-sodium chicken broth
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • Salt to taste careful - ham is already salty
  • Fresh chopped parsley for garnish optional
  • Croutons for serving optional

Method
 

  1. Melt the butter in a large Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat.
  2. Add the diced onion, carrots, and celery. Sauté for about 5-7 minutes until the vegetables begin to soften.
  3. Add the minced garlic and cook for another 30 seconds until fragrant.
  4. Add the split peas, diced ham, ham bone (if using), chicken broth, bay leaves, thyme, and black pepper.
  5. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer, covered, for about 60-75 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the peas are completely soft and breaking down.
  6. Remove the ham bone or ham hock if used. Take any remaining meat off the bone, dice it, and return it to the soup.
  7. Remove the bay leaves and discard.
  8. For a smoother texture, use an immersion blender to partially blend the soup, or transfer about half of the soup to a blender, blend until smooth, and return to the pot.
  9. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper if needed.
  10. Serve hot, garnished with fresh parsley and croutons if desired.

Nutrition

Calories: 374kcalCarbohydrates: 37gProtein: 25gFat: 14gSaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 40mgSodium: 1187mgFiber: 15gSugar: 6g
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