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!

Split Pea Soup with Ham - The Defined Dish - Recipes (5)

5 from 9 votes

Split Pea Soup with Ham

Prep: 11 minutes mins

Cook: 50 minutes mins

Total: 1 hour hr

Servings: 8

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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

Author: Alex Snodgrass

Servings: 8

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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!

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25 Comments

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

    Reply

  2. 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

  3. 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

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

    Reply

  5. 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's the best way to thicken split pea soup? ›

How to Thicken Split Pea Soup. 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.

Why is my split pea soup not creamy? ›

One common reason is using too much water or broth while cooking. Additionally, if the split peas are not cooked long enough, they may not release enough starch to thicken the soup. Another possibility is not adding enough vegetables or other thickening ingredients during the cooking process.

How many calories in 1 cup homemade split pea with ham soup? ›

Split Pea And Ham Soup (1 cup) contains 28.3g total carbs, 24g net carbs, 4.2g fat, 11.7g protein, and 195 calories.

How to cook split peas why shouldn t split peas be soaked? ›

Thankfully, Epstein notes that -- unlike dried beans, which need to be soaked overnight -- split peas require no soaking, because they cook much faster. Between prep and cooking time, this recipe can easily come together in about an hour, even with the added task of pea-sorting.

How do you make pea soup 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.

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.

How to add flavor to split pea soup? ›

Using a Ham Bone:

Using a meaty, uncleaned ham bone is what gives this soup it's amazingly rich and savory flavor. If your ham bone is small, or you are using a ham bone substitute: Be prepared to add up to 4 chicken bouillon cubes to the broth to add more flavor if needed.

How do you add flavor to a bland split pea soup? ›

Using onions, garlic, and fresh spices like thyme will add flavor to the soup. The real trick to making a bland pea soup extra tasty is using a bone or ham hock in the soup during the cooking process. Chicken broth will also add flavor to the soup.

Should split pea soup be thick or thin? ›

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.

Is pea and ham soup good for you? ›

It's fair to say that pea and ham soup is good for the soul, but it is also good for your health. Green split peas are a nutritional powerhouse. Not only are they low in fat and high in fibre, they are also a complete protein, which means they contain all nine essential amino acids.

Is split pea soup healthy for weight loss? ›

Is split pea soup good for weight loss? Yes, it is good for weight loss, as it contains a high amount of fiber supporting metabolism activities, which leads to healthier weight loss. It also includes a lower amount of fat and calories, reducing cholesterol levels and improving overall health.

Is split pea and ham soup nutritious? ›

The high fiber and protein content of this soup will keep you full and satisfied. High in protein: Split green peas are a good source of plant-based protein, this soup has 27 grams per serving. Rich in fiber: Split green peas are high in fiber, one serving of this soup has about 18 grams of fiber.

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? ›

Peas cook faster than beans, and - like beans - they don't have to be soaked at all, but not soaking affects the cooking time. An hour or two of soaking is plenty for whole green or yellow peas…they don't need to go overnight like beans typically do.

Why is my split pea soup not getting soft? ›

If the peas are very old and dried out, they won't soften. And if the water you use for making the soup is hard with lots of dissolved minerals that can stop the peas from softening. Use bottled water if that is the case.

How do you make split pea soup less watery? ›

If you want a smooth soup, puree with an immersion blender. If you were short on peas, you can thicken with a slurry—a raw starch such as rice flour or cornstarch mixed with water, then whisked into the soup. The soup needs to come to a boil for the starch to gelatinize.

Does split pea soup thicken on its own? ›

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.

How do you make soup thicker without flour or cornstarch? ›

A handful of uncooked rice. That's all folks, just a handful of white rice. Any kind will do: jasmine, basmati, short grain, long grain. When added to a brothy (or watery, even) soup, and left to simmer for 20-30 minutes, the rice breaks down, releasing its starch and thickening the liquid that it's cooking in.

How long does it take for split pea soup to thicken? ›

Now just leave the soup to boil softly stirring about every 30 minutes, be sure when you stir you are scraping the bottom of the pot to keep everything from sticking. The soup should take most of the day, 6 to 8 hours, to thicken.

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