Simple Split Pea Soup

Hearty Split Pea Soup with Ham

This easy split pea soup recipe is a true classic. It’s a hearty and satisfying meal that the whole family will love. Packed with nutritious ingredients like carrots, celery, onion, and ham, this soup is sure to warm you from the inside out. Forget canned soup – homemade split pea soup is in a league of its own!

Budget-Friendly: Split peas are an economical pantry staple. You can keep a bag on hand for a quick and easy dinner. Leftover ham and even the ham bone can be frozen for future soup creations, maximizing your budget.

Share the Love: Split pea soup is also perfect for sharing. Make a big batch and gift some to a friend or neighbor who could use a little comfort.

The Secret Ingredient: Bay Leaf

What makes this soup so special? A simple bay leaf! It may seem odd to add a small leaf and then remove it.

The bay leaf adds a subtle but essential flavor, working perfectly with the fresh thyme and parsley.

Serve this flavorful soup with warm crusty bread.

Preparing Split Peas: Quick and Easy

You might wonder if you need to soak split peas before cooking them. The good news is, no soaking is required! Split peas are processed, with the hard outer shell removed and then split in half.

Simply rinse the split peas and sort out any debris. They’re ready to cook, and they cook much faster than other legumes.

If you have a pressure cooker or slow cooker, you can skip the soaking step for other legumes like black beans or pinto beans.

Recipe Variations for Split Pea Soup

• Make it vegetarian: Omit the ham and substitute a good quality vegetable broth for the water. Add a couple of cloves of garlic and a pinch of smoked paprika for extra flavor. A couple of tablespoons of nutritional yeast can also add a delicious flavor.
• Use a leftover ham bone: If you have a ham bone (or one from the freezer), toss it in the pot to take the soup to the next level. The recipe card includes instructions for using a ham bone. You can sometimes find meaty ham bones at stores.
• For a smoother soup: Use a blender or immersion blender to purée a portion of the soup (before adding the ham). Remove about 4 cups, purée, and return it to the pot.
• Add a touch of cumin: If you like, add a bit of cumin.

Prep Ahead: Save time by prepping the vegetables the day before. Store them in a covered container in the refrigerator.

Make a Double Batch: Make a double batch of soup (if your pot is large enough). Freeze half for a quick meal later. Freeze individual portions for easy lunches.

Storage & Reheating Instructions

Refrigerate: Store split pea soup in airtight containers in the refrigerator. It will keep for about 3-4 days.

Freeze: Freeze split pea soup for up to 3-4 months. The texture might change slightly. Thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.

Reheat: Gently warm the soup in a saucepan or in the microwave.

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