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Cozy Hearty Split Pea Soup with Ham and Herbs

hearty split pea soup with ham - featured image
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A comforting and hearty split pea soup made with ham bone, fresh herbs, and simple pantry staples. Perfect for cold days, this soup offers a creamy texture and rich, smoky flavor.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 ½ cups dried green split peas, rinsed
  • About 1 ½ pounds ham bone or diced ham
  • 1 medium onion, finely chopped
  • 2 medium carrots, peeled and diced
  • 2 celery stalks, diced
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 teaspoons fresh thyme, chopped (or 1 teaspoon dried thyme)
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 6 cups chicken or vegetable broth (low sodium preferred)
  • 2 cups water
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil or butter

Instructions

  1. Rinse the split peas under cold water until the water runs clear, about 2 minutes.
  2. Heat olive oil or butter in a large heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat. Add chopped onion, carrots, and celery. Cook, stirring occasionally, until softened and fragrant, about 5-7 minutes.
  3. Stir in minced garlic, fresh thyme, and bay leaves. Cook for another minute until fragrant.
  4. Add rinsed split peas and ham bone or diced ham to the pot. Stir gently to combine.
  5. Pour in chicken broth and water. The liquid should cover the ingredients by about an inch. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat.
  6. Reduce heat to low and partially cover with a lid. Let simmer gently for 50-60 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add more water if soup becomes too thick.
  7. Remove the ham bone carefully. Strip off any remaining meat and stir it back into the soup. Discard the bone and bay leaves.
  8. Taste and season with salt and freshly ground black pepper as needed.
  9. Optional: Use an immersion blender to puree part or all of the soup for a smoother texture, or leave chunky if preferred.
  10. Ladle soup into bowls and garnish with fresh thyme or parsley if desired.

Notes

Keep stirring occasionally while simmering to prevent peas from sticking and burning. Use a gentle simmer to avoid uneven pea texture. Adjust salt carefully as ham and broth may add saltiness. For vegetarian version, omit ham and use smoked paprika and vegetable broth.

Nutrition

Keywords: split pea soup, ham soup, hearty soup, comfort food, winter soup, easy soup recipe, leftover ham recipe, cozy soup

Find it online: https://atomicbite.com/cozy-hearty-split-pea-soup-with-ham-and-herbs-easy-recipe-for-cold-days/