Split Pea Soup – Using leftover ham makes the best soup!  This split pea with ham soup is comforting, delicious and makes a great meal!

I am a huge soup lover, espcially when it is cold outside. It is the best way to warm up on a cold night.  Plus it is my excuse to have fresh bread.  These Honey Butter Dinner Rolls are pretty much perfect with any soup.  

Soup can be a great use when you have leftovers too.  This Split Pea with Ham soup uses lots of leftover ham after your holiday meal.  Ham & Bean Soup is another great one that you can use the ham and the ham bone in. 

This Split Pea Soup is one of my husband’s favorites. Peas are one of the few vegetables I don’t like, so I always forget about it.  I need to remember to make it for him more often.  It is really easy to make, and great to have on hand.  

The hardest part is probably soaking the split peas in water overnight so they soften. You do have to plan ahead, but otherwise so easy!  Plus you can freeze and have it on hand for lunches or another dinner later.  That is my kind of meal!  I currently have Taco Soup in the freezer, and I think I need to make more!

How to Make Split Pea Soup

• Start with dried split peas. Soak in water overnight to let them soften and then you can start cooking with them.
• Saute the classic veggies that go in a soup; carrots, celery, onion and garlic
• Use diced ham.  You can use leftover ham or just buy the pre-diced ham from the store.  Both work really well.
• Let everything simmer for about an hour. This brings all the seasonings together and makes the perfect soup.
• You could easily add everything to the crock pot and let it cook on low for a few hours as well.
• My husband prefers his soup brothy like this, but use a stick blender if you want a smoother, creamier version.

This split pea soup recipe is my go to when I have leftover ham. It does take awhile to simmer on the stove, but that is mostly hands-off, so it is super easy to make. If you have the ham bone, you could let it simmer with the soup as well to give it even more flavor!  As the peas cook and start to break down, they help thicken the soup and give it a nice creamy texture.

How to Cook with Split Peas

The only way I have ever seen split peas sold is dried. So they will need to be soaked or simmered in liquid before they are used.  You can make this soup without soaking them first, your soup will just need to simmer for 1-2 hours longer until the peas are cooked.

To soak your split peas just place them in a plastic container and cover them with about 2 inches of water.  I place the container in the fridge and just let them sit there overnight. Then you are ready to use them in the soup the next day. 

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Yield: 8

Ham and Split Pea Soup

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Split Pea Soup - Using leftover ham makes the best soup!  This split pea with ham soup is comforting, delicious and makes a great meal!

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 1 hour 30 minutes

Total Time 1 hour 45 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 pound dried split peas
• 3 Tbls butter
• 1 cup onion, , finely chopped
• 1/2 cup celery, , finely chopped
• 1/2 cup carrots, , finely chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, , minced
• 1 pound ham, , chopped
• 1 tsp salt
• 3/4 tsp black pepper
• 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
• 8 cups chicken stock
• 1 bay leaf

Instructions

1. Put the dried peas in a large bowl, cover with water by 2 inches. Let soak for 8 hours or overnight. Drain the peas, set aside.
2. In a large stock pot melt the butter over a medium-high heat. Add the onions, and cook for about 2 minutes.
3. Stir in the celery and carrots, cook until everything is getting soft, about 3 minutes. Add garlic, and cook for another minute.
4. Stir in the chopped ham, and let it begin to brown.
5. Add the drained peas, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes, stir to get everything mixed together.
6. Pour in chicken stock, and add the bay leaf. Let is simmer for about 1 hour, stirring occasionally, until the peas become tender. Add water as needed if the soup gets to thick.
7. Remove the bay leaf, season with additional salt and pepper if needed, and serve.

Notes

For a thicker and creamier soup, puree 1/2 of the drained peas before adding them. Source: Adapted from Food Network

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Nutrition Information

Yield

8

Serving Size

1
Amount Per ServingCalories 303 Total Fat 12g Saturated Fat 5g Trans Fat 0g Unsaturated Fat 6g Cholesterol 51mg Sodium 1333mg Carbohydrates 27g Fiber 6g Sugar 7g Protein 21g

Nutrition Disclaimer: All information presented on this site is intended for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and any nutritional information shared on dinnersdishesanddesserts.com should only be used as a general guideline.