How do I make my ham and pea soup thicker?

Add Flour Or Cornstarch You can thicken soup by adding flour, cornstarch, or another starchy substitute. For the best results, never add flour or cornstarch directly to your soup. If you do, it will clump up on top. Instead, ladle a small amount of broth into a separate bowl and let it cool.

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.

Do split peas need to be soaked before cooking?

It's true, soaking peas overnight in water shortens their cooking time. But soaking isn't entirely necessary . Split peas cook relatively quickly. Unsoaked peas take from 1 to 2 hours of simmering; soaked peas take about 40 minutes.

How many calories are in a cup of homemade split pea soup with ham?

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

Should split pea soup be thin or thick?

However not thickened with traditional methods, the thickness of this soup comes from the cooking down of the split peas themselves. The longer you cook the pea occupied broth, the thicker the soup gets . This is a preference, so you choose your thickness.

Why are my green split peas still hard after cooking?

If your split peas are hard after this length of cooking time, there is something wrong with the peas or with your water . 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.

How to jazz up split pea soup?

(Bonus: all of the ingredients stay the same for Instant Pot split pea soup!). I love topping each bowl with crunchy sourdough croutons and a drizzle of olive oil for richness . You can also sprinkle each serving with fresh herbs, bacon bits, or pine nuts.

Why is my pea and ham soup tasteless?

The common denominator will probably be meat (ham bones are common), more salt, and pepper to taste . If you want to take a shortcut, you could use bouillon cubes or paste to provide both meaty flavor and salt, though pork is a lot harder to find than chicken or beef. Salt and pepper you can just stir in.

What acid to add to split pea soup?

For the finish, many pea soups call for an acidic ingredient— vinegar, lemon juice, sherry, or sour cream to bring balance to an otherwise rich and heavy soup.

What to do if your pea soup is too watery?

There are several options to thicken split pea soup. One popular choice is to add mashed potatoes . Simply boil and mash some potatoes separately, then stir them into the soup until well combined. Another alternative is to mix in some cooked rice or barley to help thicken the soup.

What makes ham and bean soup thicken?

Use Cornstarch or Arrowroot Powder Let the soup simmer for a few minutes until it reaches the desired thickness.

How do you doctor up canned pea soup?

Cook and crumble up some bacon or sausage for a punch of additional meaty flavor . Try sauteing ham for split pea soup. Even some pan-fried shrimp would be great on canned potato or corn chowder. If you steer clear of meat, you can turn to vegetarian protein options like eggs and tofu.

Split Pea Soup with Ham Recipe (2024)

Diethood » Recipes » Soups » Easy Split Pea Soup with Ham

Jump to RecipeRate This Recipe

By: KaterinaPosted: Jun 9, 2021Updated: Nov 12, 2023

4.85 from 19 votes

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

This easy Split Pea Soup with Ham is a hearty and delicious homemade soup prepared with tender split peas, veggies, and smoked ham.

I love classic recipes! The tried-and-true favorites are often fun and easy to master, and they’re so rewarding to serve up to a hungry tribe. This split pea soup is definitely one of those recipes, thanks to its delicate but smoky flavor and delicious hearty texture.

Why We Love This Soup

Classic Comfort: This split pea soup is a time-honored recipe that’s enjoyable to make and serve.
Unique Flavor: Offers a smoky taste with the natural sweetness of split peas.
Hearty Texture: The soup has a hearty yet light texture, with split peas providing natural thickness.
Budget-Friendly: Made with affordable split peas, it’s a nutritious and economical meal option.

What Are Split Peas?

Split peas are a legume, often prepared in saucy or soupy dishes. The flavor is mild and slightly sweet, perfect for various spices! In this simple split pea soup, we’ll use basic ingredients like carrots, onions, ham, and earthy herbs.

Ingredients For Split Pea Soup

Butter & Olive Oil: I use a tablespoon of butter and a tablespoon of olive oil for sautéing.
Celery: You’ll need three celery stalks, diced.
Carrots: Along with the celery, dice up two small carrots.
Onion: For the onion, you can go with any type, but I usually use yellow onion.
Garlic: Mince or press three cloves of fresh garlic.
Broth: Have ready 6 cups of low-sodium chicken broth. If you’d like to substitute, this recipe also works well with vegetable broth or homemade bone broth.
Water: You’ll need two cups of water in addition to the broth.
Split Peas: You can use green or yellow dried split peas; green is most common. Either way, 16 ounces are needed for this recipe.
Bay Leaves: Two medium bay leaves give a classic homemade flavor.
Dried Thyme & Oregano: Use one teaspoon of each.
Salt & Pepper: To taste.
Ham: I recommend ham hocks or a meaty ham bone.

How to Make Split Pea Soup with Ham

Cook Veggies: In a large pot, melt butter with olive oil over medium-high heat. Sauté chopped celery, carrots, and onions for 4 minutes, then add garlic for 1 minute.
Add Ingredients: Add chicken broth, water, split peas, thyme, oregano, salt, pepper, bay leaves, and ham bone. Caution: go light on salt as the ham is salty!
Cook: Bring to a boil, then simmer covered for 1 hour and 20 minutes, checking at the one-hour mark for doneness.
Chop Ham: Remove ham bone carefully (avoid splatters), let cool, then shred or chop the meat, discarding bones or skin.
Finish Soup: Return ham to soup, cook for 1 minute, and adjust seasoning if needed. If too salty, add water to dilute it. Ladle into bowls and serve it garnished with parsley.

Recipe Tips And Variations

Sort: Raw split peas, like other legumes, should always be rinsed and sorted before eating. “Sorting” means looking through the peas to remove damaged ones or the occasional small pebble.
Rinse: Raw split peas should be rinsed in a large mesh sieve. They are so small that they often run right out of the holes in a colander.
Change It: Split Pea Soup can work with almost any add-ins, from curry sauce to potatoes to fresh crab meat. Some people also love adding fresh English peas to their soup.
Use Cubed Ham: If you’d rather not use ham hocks or a ham bone, you can still get the flavor by simply stirring cubed ham into the simmering soup.
Use Up Leftovers: Split pea soup is also great with leftover corned beef, sliced sausage, bacon crumbles, or no meat at all.
Crockpot Option: Exclude the 2 cups of water and parsley, and add all the other ingredients to a 6-quart slow cooker. Cook on Low for 8 hours or on High for 5 hours. Remove the ham, shred it or chop it, and return it to the soup. Garnish with parsley and serve.

What To Serve With Soup

A simple grilled cheese is perfect with a split pea soup, but you could also go with a Reuben Sandwich or a Panzanella Sandwich. There’s nothing like homemade Cornbread for a cozy side or this quick Naan to sop up all that soupy goodness. But also, soft, fresh-baked Pretzel Bites make this meal a super-special treat!

How to Store and Reheat Leftovers

To store leftovers, place the soup in an airtight container and refrigerate it for up to 4 days, or freeze it for up to 4 months.
To reheat it, place the desired amount into a saucepan and cook over medium heat until piping hot, stirring frequently.

More Soup Recipes to Try

Chicken Noodle Soup
Easy Lentil Soup
Creamy Crack Chicken Soup
Ham Sweet Potato Soup
Turkey Noodle Soup

Easy Split Pea Soup with Ham

Katerina | Diethood

Smoky, hearty, and full of protein, this Easy Split Pea Soup with Ham is a meal worth savoring!

4.85 from 19 votes

Rate this Recipe!

Ingredients

▢ 1 tablespoon butter
▢ 1 tablespoon olive oil
▢ 3 celery stalks, diced
▢ 2 carrots, diced
▢ 1 small yellow onion, diced
▢ 3 cloves garlic, minced
▢ 6 cups low sodium chicken broth
▢ 2 cups water
▢ 1 bag (16 ounces) dried split peas
▢ 2 bay leaves
▢ 1 teaspoon dried thyme
▢ 1 teaspoon dried oregano
▢ salt and fresh ground black pepper, to taste
▢ 1¼ pound ham hocks or a meaty ham bone
▢ chopped fresh parsley, for garnish

Instructions

Heat olive oil and melt butter in a large pot or Dutch oven set over medium-high heat.
Add chopped celery, carrots, and onions; cook for 4 minutes. Stir in garlic and cook for 1 minute.
Stir in chicken broth and water.
Stir in split peas, bay leaves, thyme, and oregano; season with salt and pepper. Don’t use too much salt because the ham hocks are already salty.
Add ham hocks to the pot and bring mixture to a boil.
Reduce heat to low, cover the pot, and let simmer for about 1 hour and 15 minutes. Stir occasionally. The soup is ready when the peas are soft. Start checking it for doneness around the 55-minute mark.
Remove ham from soup and let rest for several minutes, or until cooled enough to handle. Then, shred or chop up the meat into smaller pieces. Discard bones and skin.
Add chopped ham back into the soup. Cook for a minute.
Remove from heat. Taste the soup for salt and pepper and adjust accordingly.
Ladle the soup into bowls, garnish with parsley, and serve.

Notes

Ham Alternatives: If you don’t have a ham bone, you could use diced ham or even smoked sausage for a different twist on flavor.
Adjusting Consistency: If the soup is too thick for your liking, you can add more broth or water to reach the desired consistency. If it’s too thin, let it simmer uncovered for a little longer.
Vegetarian Version: You can make a vegetarian version by omitting the ham and using vegetable broth instead of chicken broth.
Spice It Up: Feel free to add more herbs or spices to taste, such as a pinch of cayenne for heat or some fresh rosemary for depth.
Avoid Over-Salting: Since the ham (especially if cured or smoked) adds saltiness, taste as you go, adding salt gradually as needed.
Storing and Reheating: This soup freezes well. Store in airtight containers for up to three months. Reheat on the stove, adding a bit of water or broth if it’s too thick after freezing.
Slow Cooker Option: If you prefer, you can make this soup in a slow cooker, excluding the 2 cups of water, and adjust the cooking time to 5 hours on high or 8 hours on low.

Nutrition

Nutritional info is an estimate and provided as courtesy. Values may vary according to the ingredients and tools used. Please use your preferred nutritional calculator for more detailed info.

Course: Dinner

Cuisine: American

Keyword: homemade soup, pea and ham soup, split pea soup with ham hock

Did you make this recipe?Leave a Rating!