Description
This hearty split pea soup delivers thick, flavorful comfort in every bowl, made with a meaty ham bone, tender vegetables, and simple steps. Perfect for stovetop, Instant Pot, or Crock Pot, it requires no soaking and tastes even better the next day.
Ingredients
Dry split peas
1 lb (2 cups)
Yellow preferred for color; rinse only, no soak needed
Meaty ham bone
1 large
Leftover from holidays; substitutes in notes
Diced ham
2 cups
Shredded from bone at end
Onions
2 cups, diced
Yellow or white for sweetness
Carrots
2 cups, diced
Adds color and natural sugar
Russet potatoes
2 medium, peeled and diced
For heartiness
Garlic
1 tbsp minced
Fresh for punch
Onion powder
1 tbsp
Boosts flavor evenly
Butter
1 tbsp
For richness
Olive oil
2 tbsp
Prevents sticking
Fresh thyme
2 sprigs
Or 1 tsp dried
Bay leaves
2
Remove before serving
Water
8 cups
Or half chicken stock for extra umami
Salt and pepper
To taste
Added at end
Instructions
1. Rinse split peas under cold water; drain. Add to a 4.5-quart Dutch oven or large pot with ham bone, onions, garlic, onion powder, butter, olive oil, thyme, bay leaves, and water.
2. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to low simmer. Cover partially and cook 2-2.5 hours, stirring occasionally, until peas break down and soup thickens. (Higher altitudes: add 1-2 hours.)
3. Stir in carrots and potatoes 40 minutes before end. Test tenderness with a fork.
4. Remove ham bone, bay leaves, and thyme stems. Shred 2 cups ham from bone, chop, and return to pot with diced ham. Season with salt and pepper. Serve hot.
Notes
Stovetop method shown.
Instant Pot: All ingredients except carrots/potatoes, high pressure 25 min + 15 min natural release, then saute veggies 10-15 min.
Crock Pot: All except carrots/potatoes on low 8 hrs, add veggies last hour.
Split peas don’t need soaking. For thicker soup, simmer longer. No ham bone? Add 4 bouillon cubes or 1.5 cups diced ham steak.
Vegetarian: Use vegetable broth, 1 tsp smoked paprika, 1/2 tsp liquid smoke.
Storage: Fridge 5 days, freeze 3 months. Reheat with water splash.
- Prep Time: PT15M
- Cook Time: PT150M
- Category: soup
- Method: stovetop, instant pot, slow cooker
- Cuisine: american
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 8g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 10g
- Protein: 15g
- Cholesterol: 30mg