Split pea soup with ham!!!

What do you do with leftover ham or our carefully cured Pork Smoke Hocks???

Make Split Pea soup with HAM!!!! This wonderful recipe is sure to wow your crowd! It did in our house! Enjoy!!! 

Split Pea Soup with HAM

I have to confess: I approached the photo shoot for this post with some trepidation. Split Pea Soup with Ham is one of my favorite dishes to make after a holiday ham dinner. It also has something of a reputation for not being all that photogenic.

I don’t know if it’s the particular shade of green (split pea soup is much less vibrantly colored than fresh pea soup) or the pureed-but-not-really texture, but split pea is known as a bit of an ugly duckling in the world of soups.

It’s a shame, because Split Pea and Ham Soup can be so delicious. Simmered until thick with a meaty ham bone or ham hocks and aromatics, this is a comforting bowl that’s a little bit smoky, a little bit sweet, and completely satisfying.

(And, luckily, from a food styling point of view, bright bowls, fresh herbs, cracked pepper, and toasted, buttery croutons work wonders on the eyes!)

WHAT ARE SPLIT PEAS?

Split peas are made from field peas that are dried, peeled, and split in half for cooking. They come in both yellow and green varieties. Yellow split peas tend to be the mildest in flavor, and green split peas, sweeter. You’ll often see yellow split peas used in curries.

Split peas do not need to be soaked prior to cooking, but they should be rinsed and sorted to remove any stones that might have gotten mixed into the bag. Simmered with plenty of stock in a soup, they’ll cook down and thicken into a textured puree (without having to break out the immersion blender).

Split peas also have great nutritional benefits. They’re low in fat, packed with fiber and protein, and are a good source of several vitamins and minerals, including Vitamins A, B, and magnesium.

MAKING SPLIT PEA SOUP WITH HAM

I make this recipe whenever I have a leftover ham bone in the fridge, usually after Easter. The bone, and the meat attached to it, give the soup a nice depth of flavor as it simmers, with a subtle smoky flavor.

In addition to the ham bone, like to add some diced ham to the pot during the last 15 minutes of cooking for an even heartier texture.

If you want to make this recipe without holiday leftovers, you can also substitute ham hocks This cut comes from the bottom of the leg, near the ankle, and lends great flavor to braises and slowly-simmered soups. When the soup is ready, just remove the meat from the bones and shred it into the soup.

Given the mild flavor of split peas in general, soup made with them can be a little muted. The ham bone or hocks do a lot to rectify that, but aromatics, fresh herbs, and well-flavored stock are equally essential.

I start this soup with plenty of onions, carrots, and celery softened in butter and simmer it all with thyme leaves, dried bay leaves, and chicken stock. When seasoning the soup, go light on the salt and add to taste as the saltiness of your stock and ham can vary.

The split peas will cook down over the course of about an hour. I don’t puree the soup further, since I like it to have a bit of texture.

After the split peas are fully cooked, the thickness of the soup is entirely adjustable to your personal preferences. If you find that it’s too thick after an hour, just add in some extra stock. For a very thick soup, simmer longer. Remember that this split pea soup with ham will continue to thicken as it stands. 

SERVING AND STORING SPLIT PEA SOUP

Split Pea Soup with Ham is very filling on its own, but I always find room for a few croutons on top. The crisp croutons are a great contrast to the creamy soup and bring even more flavor to the bowl. They’re a “must”!

I also like to top the soup with a few extra thyme leaves, and freshly-cracked black pepper for a pop of freshness and spice.

This split pea soup recipe can be made in advance and stored, tightly covered, in the refrigerator for 3 days. You may need to thin the texture with a bit of chicken stock when you reheat it. You can also freeze the soup for 2-3 months.

SPLIT PEA SOUP WITH HAM

This slowly-simmered split pea soup uses a ham bone (or ham hocks) for a rich, subtly smoky flavor. Don't forget the croutons on top!

COURSE: SOUP

CUISINE: AMERICAN

KEYWORD: LEFTOVER HAM RECIPE, SPLIT PEA SOUP RECIPE, WINTER SOUP RECIPE

PREP TIME: 15 MINUTES

COOK TIME: 1 HOUR 15 MINUTES

TOTAL TIME: 1 HOUR 30 MINUTES

YIELD: 6 SERVINGS

CALORIES: 468 KCAL

AUTHOR /  Photo / Blog Credit: Striped Spatula https://stripedspatula.com/split-pea-soup-with-ham/   (This gal is seriously talented! Check out her other recipes!) 

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup unsalted butter
• 2 cups chopped onion
• 1 cup diced carrot(1/4-inch dice)
• 1 cup diced celery(1/4-inch dice)
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt, plus additional to taste
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly-ground black pepper , plus additional to taste
• 2 cloves garlic , minced
• 1 pound dried split peas , rinsed and sorted
• 1 meaty ham bone
• 1 large bay leaf (or 2 small)
• 2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves , chopped and quantity divided
• 6 cups chicken stock
• 2 cups water
• 1 cup diced ham (1/4-inch dice)
• Crutons, for serving

Instructions

1. In a large pot or Dutch oven, melt butter until foaming subsides. Add onion, carrot, celery, salt and pepper. Cook until vegetables are softened and just beginning to brown, 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 1 hour, stirring occasionally, until split peas are cooked down and soup is thickened to desired consistency. (Stir more frequently as the soup begins to thicken.)
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. Serve hot with croutons and cracked black pepper.

Recipe Notes

Ham Bone Substitution:

*If you don't have a leftover ham bone, two ham hocks can be substituted. If using ham hocks, omit the 1 cup of diced ham. When you remove the ham hocks from the pot, shred the meat off of the bones and return it to the pot before serving. Discard the bones.

Make-ahead:

The soup can be stored, tightly-covered, in the refrigerator for 3 days, or frozen for 2-3 months. When reheating (to 160 degrees F), add additional stock, if needed, to thin the soup to your desired consistency.