Split Pea Soup (VIDEO)

This homemade Split Pea Soup is the perfect cozy soup recipe as we roll into the winter months. This soup is a nutritious blend of split peas, savory ham, and sauteed vegetables, creating the perfect comfort food to warm you from the inside out. Watch the video tutorial and see how easy it is.

The Best Split Pea Soup Recipe

Growing up, my mom had the best Split Pea Soup recipe. She called it by its Ukrainian name, Horohoviy Soup. I remember back when I was working as a nurse, on a cold winter day, my husband called my mom for this recipe, and when I came home, he had a warm bowl of homemade Split Pea Soup waiting for me. This isn’t just a bowl of soup, it’s comfort in a bowl.

Split Pea Soup is our favorite way to use leftover Baked Ham from the holidays, but you can make it without a ham bone, adding diced ham or bacon, or keep it vegetarian.

Ingredients for Split Pea Soup

I love making this soup with yellow split peas. I prefer the flavor over green split peas and love the appealing golden color. A green-tinged soup is a hard sell for my kids so this is perfect!

• Water and Chicken Stock – create the base for this hearty soup
• Ham – use diced ham or use your leftover bone from your Baked Ham. After cooking, the tender meat will fall right off the bone, and you can add it back into the soup.
• Split Peas – I prefer dry, golden split peas. They have a sweet flavor profile and are more visually appealing than green split peas (which is helpful, especially when serving kids). No need to soak for hours (or even at all), the peas soften to create a creamy and satisfying texture. You can substitute green split peas.
• Vegetables – potatoes, carrots, celery, yellow onion create the thick, flavorful base
• Flavor/Herbs – garlic, bay leaves, fresh dill or parsley, thyme, salt, and pepper

What are split peas?

Split peas are dried green or yellow peas that have split. Peas have two halves inside of their outer shell that make up the round pea, and during the drying process, they separate. Split peas become very tender during the cooking process creating a smooth texture. They are nutritious and a great addition to soups, stews, salads, and curries.

How to Make Split Pea Soup

• Sauté – Set a large soup pot or 5 1/2 quart Dutch oven on the stovetop over medium-high heat and add olive oil. Add ham (or ham hock), and sauté until golden brown then transfer to a plate.
Add olive oil and sauté chopped onion and celery until softened.
• Combine– Add stock, water, and rinsed peas. Add the ham back to the pot. Bring to a boil and skim off and discard any foam that rises to the top.
• Flavor and Simmer – Add thyme and bay leaves and season with salt. Reduce heat to a simmer, partially cover, and simmer for 1 hour 30 minutes or until peas are almost dissolved. If using a ham hock, remove the bone from the soup, then shred the meat and return it to the pot.
• Simmer Additional Vegetables – Add chopped carrots and potatoes and cook for another 20 minutes or until the veggies are fork-tender.
• Season and Serve – Season with salt and pepper to taste. Remove and discard the bay leaves and thyme stems. Press in the garlic, add dill or parsley, and immediately turn off the heat. Garnish with fresh herbs. Keep in mind it will thicken more as it cools.

What to Serve with Split Pea Soup

Split pea soup is a hearty and satisfying meal on its own. We love pairing it with bread such as:

• Crusty French Bread
• Focaccia Bread
• Sourdough Bread
• Biscuits Recipe
• Sourdough Dinner Rolls

Can I Make Split Pea Soup in a Crockpot?

Add all of your ingredients to your slow cooker, reducing the water by half since not as much water will evaporate as it cooks. Cook on low heat for 7 hours.

More Hearty Soup Recipes

If you love this Split Pea Soup recipe, then you won’t want to miss these hearty soup recipes:

• Vegetable Soup
• Turkey Noodle Soup
• Tomato Soup
• Taco Soup
• Zuppa Toscana
• Lamb Stew