Warm up with a ham bone-enhanced bowl of savory split pea soup.
When it comes to comforting soups for a cold and blustery day, you have many options. Chicken noodle is the classic choice, and the duo of tomato soup with grilled cheese is a fan favorite. However, split pea soup has a long history of offering foodies creamy comfort in diverse cultures.
In fact, some historians believe civilizations as far back as Ancient Rome and Egypt were cooking up bowls of split pea soup. Since then, everyone, from seafaring sailors to the affluent, can’t get enough of this delicious (and nutritious!) recipe.
And I’ll let you in on the secret ingredient that makes this soup shine: ham bone! As you let the bone simmer away in your pot, it will add an incredible depth of flavor that will make this pea soup irresistible.
So, whenever you’re ready to warm your belly, try this rich split pea soup recipe. Within just an hour or two of simmering, you’ll have a delicious, hearty soup ready for devouring.
Is Split Pea Soup with Ham Bone Healthy?
Split pea soup is one comfort food you don’t have to feel guilty about. In fact, with all the vegetables in this soup, you can feel good knowing you’re getting vitamins, minerals, and fiber. The protein from the ham also helps keep you satisfied.
Although split pea soup is generally healthy, there are a few things to consider. For instance, the salt content from the ham can be pretty high, so it’s important to go with a low-sodium chicken broth to bring the overall salt level down. Also, although you get a lot of flavor from fatty ham bones, this will contribute saturated fat to your soup. If you’re concerned about the fat content, you could experiment with a chicken or turkey bone to provide a similar (although non-traditional) savory flavor.
What kind of ham bone should I use?
When cooking a ham for the fam, set the bone on the side so you can make recipes like split pea soup. However, I know it’s not every day we bake an elaborate honey-glazed ham, so chances are you’ll need to visit your butcher to pick up a ham bone specifically for this recipe.
While any ham bone works, most recipes recommend ham hocks or a ham shank. Why? Well, the ham hock comes from the lower leg, while the shank is on the upper leg, both of which contain plenty of connective tissue. The bone marrow and collagen in these bones translate to a richer flavor. So, if you’re going for the ultimate split pea soup experience, it’s worthwhile scoping out your local supermarkets for these specific offerings.
How to make ahead and store
Besides chopping veggies for your split pea soup, there’s not much you can do the night before to speed up the cooking process. You can, however, easily store your split pea soup in the fridge or freezer after cooking and heat it whenever you get a hankering for a bowl of warm comfort. Transfer your split pea soup to an airtight container and store it in the fridge for up to 3 days. You could also put your split pea soup in a freezer-safe container, stick on a label with the date you cooked it, and freeze it for up to 3 months. Remember to thaw your frozen split pea soup overnight to ensure it’s good to go when you want to enjoy it.
Serving Suggestions
Split pea soup screams “lunchtime comfort food,” which makes cheesy staples like Grilled Cheese or Bacon Mac And Cheese perfect pairing ideas. If you don’t feel like being so elaborate, you could serve your split pea soup with a crunchy bread roll, like sourdough, to sop up all that green goodness.
For those looking for more healthful side ideas, Oven-Roasted Veggies or a salad are also great complements to a steamy bowl of split pea soup. Other healthful ideas to keep in mind include Fluffy Quinoa, Cauliflower Rice, and Parsnip Fries. Oh yeah, and it should go without saying that split pea soup isn’t complete without croutons!
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 cups chopped yellow onion
- 1 cup diced carrots
- 1 cup diced celery
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 pound dried split peas rinsed and sorted
- 1 ham bone
- 1 bay leaf
- 2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves divided
- 6 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 2 cups water
- 1 cup diced cooked ham
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add onions, carrots, and celery with salt and pepper. Cook until vegetables are softened, about 5-8 minutes. Stir in garlic and cook for 1 minute.
- Add split peas, ham bone, bay leaf, and 1 teaspoon of thyme. Pour in chicken broth and water. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 60-90 minutes, stirring occasionally, until peas are tender and soup has thickened.
- Remove the ham bone and bay leaf. Add diced ham and remaining thyme. Cook for an additional 15 minutes. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper to taste. Serve hot.
Nutrition Info:
Nutrition information are estimates only and may vary based on the specific brands, ingredients, and portion sizes you use. This data is provided for informational purposes only.
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