Split Pea Soup with Ham
Ingredients
- ¼ cunsalted butter
- 2 cchopped onion
- 1 cdiced carrot)
(1/4-inch dice
- 1 cdiced celery)
(1/4-inch dice
- ¼ tspkosher salt
- ½ tspfreshly-ground black pepper
- 2 clovesgarlic
, minced
- 1 lbdried green split peas
, rinsed and sorted
- 1meaty ham bone
- 1 largebay leaf)
(or 2 small
- 2 tspfresh thyme leaves
, chopped and quantity divided
- 6 cchicken stock)
(low sodium
- 2 cwater
- 1 cdiced ham)
(1/4-inch dice
- buttery garlic croutons
, for serving
Directions
- 1
In a large pot or Dutch oven, melt butter over medium heat until foaming subsides. Add onion, carrot, celery, 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Cook until vegetables are softened, 5-8 minutes. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute, until aromatic. Stir in split peas.
- 2
Add ham bone, bay leaf, and 1 teaspoon fresh thyme. Stir in chicken stock and water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer uncovered for 60-90 minutes, stirring occasionally, until split peas are cooked down and soup is thickened to desired consistency. (Stir more frequently as the soup begins to thicken and add a little additional stock or water if it gets too thick for your taste.)
- 3
Add diced ham during the last 15 minutes of cooking. When ready to serve, remove and discard ham bone and bay leaf, and stir in remaining 1 teaspoon fresh thyme. Season to taste with salt, if needed. Serve hot with croutons and cracked black pepper.
Split Pea Soup with Ham
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Ratings & Reviews
Based on 350 ratings
Rating Breakdown
About this Recipe
Looking for the ultimate comfort food that makes the most of every savory bit? This Split Pea Soup with Ham recipe delivers, transforming a simple ham bone into a deeply satisfying, rich meal perfect for any day. It’s the ideal way to utilize that leftover ham, creating a dish that’s both economical and incredibly flavorful. The effort is minimal, but the reward is immense, providing a hearty bowl that truly warms from the inside out. The focus here is on authentic flavor and robust texture, ensuring every spoonful is a delight. This is a classic for a reason.The magic lies in the slow simmer with a meaty ham bone (or ham hocks), infusing every spoonful with a rich, smoky depth that processed ham can't replicate. This patient cooking method extracts maximum flavor from the ham, creating a complex base that elevates the humble split pea. The combination of aromatic vegetables like onion, carrot, and celery with fresh thyme rounds out the profile, making this soup stand out from simpler versions.You'll be treated to a thick, velvety soup, studded with tender split peas and generous chunks of savory, diced ham. The aroma of simmering garlic, onion, and fresh thyme will fill your kitchen, promising a bowl that’s both comforting and substantial. Each spoonful offers a harmonious blend of smoky, earthy, and subtly sweet notes from the vegetables, creating a wonderfully balanced flavor profile. This soup is designed for a rich, satisfying experience, showcasing the depth that slow cooking can achieve.If a ham bone isn't available, meaty ham hocks work beautifully to achieve that same smoky essence and richness. Feel free to adjust the kosher salt and freshly-ground black pepper to your personal taste, ensuring every bowl is perfectly seasoned. For an extra layer of flavor, consider adding a pinch of smoked paprika along with the other seasonings, though it's delicious as is.Serve this robust Split Pea Soup with Ham steaming hot, generously topped with buttery garlic croutons for an added layer of texture and flavor. It’s a complete and satisfying meal on its own, perfect for a cozy evening or a comforting lunch. The crunch of the croutons provides a delightful contrast to the soup's velvety texture.