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Old Fashion Split Pea Soup

Connie Perry Recipes-Old Fashion Split Pea Soup

You Will Need

Ingredients
 

Soup

  • 1 (16-ounce) bag dried green split peas, rinsed and picked over

  • 2 tablespoons butter

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil

  • 1 large onion, diced

  • 3 celery stalks, diced

  • 3 large carrots, diced

  • 4 cloves garlic, minced

  • 1 meaty smoked ham hock (or leftover ham bone)

  • 2½ cups diced cooked ham

  • 8 cups chicken broth

  • 1 cup water (more if needed)

  • 2 teaspoons Better Than Bouillon Chicken Base (optional, but highly recommended)

  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme

  • 1 teaspoon parsley

  • ½ teaspoon black pepper

  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder

  • 2 bay leaves

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Instructions

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  1. Step 1

  2. Rinse the split peas thoroughly and remove any stones or damaged peas.

  3. Step 2

  4. In a large Dutch oven or soup pot, melt the butter with the olive oil over medium heat.

  5. Add:

  6. onion

  7. carrots

  8. celery

  9. Cook for 8–10 minutes until the vegetables begin to soften.

  10. Stir in the garlic and cook another 30 seconds.

  11. Step 3

  12. Add:

  13. split peas

  14. ham hock

  15. diced ham

  16. chicken broth

  17. water

  18. Better Than Bouillon

  19. thyme

  20. parsley

  21. garlic powder

  22. black pepper

  23. bay leaves

  24. Bring to a gentle boil.

  25. Step 4

  26. Reduce heat to low.

  27. Cover and simmer for 2 to 2½ hours, stirring every 20–30 minutes to prevent sticking.

  28. If the soup becomes too thick while cooking, stir in a little additional broth or water.

  29. Step 5

  30. Remove the ham hock.

  31. Shred any meat from the bone and return it to the soup.

  32. Discard the bone, skin, and bay leaves.

  33. Step 6

  34. For an extra creamy texture, use an immersion blender to blend about one-third of the soup, leaving plenty of chunks of ham and vegetables.

  35. If you don't have an immersion blender, mash a few scoops with a potato masher and stir them back into the pot.

  36. Step 7

  37. Taste and adjust the seasoning.

  38. If needed, add additional salt, pepper, or a little more Better Than Bouillon.

  39. Serve hot with warm cornbread, buttery biscuits, or crusty bread.

  40. Connie's Tips ❤️

  41. A smoked ham hock or leftover holiday ham bone gives the soup incredible homemade flavor.

  42. Don't skip sautéing the vegetables—it builds a much richer base.

  43. Blending only part of the soup creates a thick, creamy texture while keeping hearty chunks throughout.

  44. Split pea soup thickens as it cools. Simply stir in a little chicken broth when reheating.

  45. This soup is even better the next day after the flavors have had time to meld.

  46. Storage

  47. Refrigerator: Store in an airtight container for up to 4 days.

  48. Freezer: Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and reheat gently on the stovetop, adding a splash of broth if needed.

  49. Serving Suggestions

  50. Homemade cornbread

  51. Buttermilk biscuits

  52. Crusty French bread

  53. Oyster crackers

  54. A simple garden salad

Split Soup Variations

  1. Split Pea Soup: The classic split pea soup is made with green or yellow split peas, onions, carrots, celery, garlic, and vegetable or meat broth. It's often seasoned with thyme, bay leaves, and pepper. Ham hocks or bacon can be added for extra flavor.

  2. Yellow Split Pea Soup: Similar to the classic split pea soup, this variation specifically uses yellow split peas. It may have a milder taste compared to green split pea soup.

  3. Red Lentil Soup: While not technically made with split peas, red lentil soup is another popular legume-based soup. It's made with red lentils, onions, carrots, tomatoes, and various spices like cumin, turmeric, and coriander.

  4. Dal (Indian Split Lentil Soup): Dal is a traditional Indian soup made from various split lentils, such as split mung beans or split red lentils. It is usually seasoned with Indian spices like cumin, turmeric, mustard seeds, and curry leaves.

  5. Pea and Ham Soup: A variation of split pea soup, but with the addition of diced ham, which adds a smoky and savory flavor to the dish.

  6. Smoky Split Pea Soup: This version is made with smoked split peas or incorporates smoked ingredients like smoked paprika or liquid smoke to infuse the soup with a smoky flavor.

  7. Vegetarian Split Pea Soup: A meatless version of the classic split pea soup, using vegetable broth and omitting any meat-based additives.

  8. Moroccan Harira Soup: Though not made with split peas, this soup includes lentils along with chickpeas, tomatoes, onions, and a blend of spices like cinnamon, cumin, and ginger. It's a hearty and flavorful soup.

  9. Split Pea and Potato Soup: A variation that combines split peas with chunks of potatoes for added texture and heartiness.

  10. Creamy Split Pea Soup: In this variation, the soup is blended to a smooth and creamy consistency, often with the addition of coconut milk or cream.

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These are just a few examples of split soup variations. Feel free to experiment with different ingredients and flavors to create your own unique and delicious split pea-based soup recipes!

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