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Close-up of a bowl of split pea soup, garnished with ham, parsley, and black pepper. A perfect example of how to make soup recipes.

Split Pea Soup

Learn to make a hearty and flavorful split pea soup with this easy-to-follow recipe. Perfect for a comforting meal.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Simmer uncovered 15 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Servings: 6 bowls
Course: Dinner
Calories: 397

Ingredients
  

For the Soup
  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 medium onion, diced
  • 3 carrots, diced
  • 3 ribs celery, diced
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 pound dried split peas, rinsed
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 meaty ham bone
  • 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
  • 3 to 4 cups water
  • 1 cup diced ham (from ham bone or added separately)
For Garnish
  • finely chopped fresh parsley

Equipment

  • Large pot or Dutch oven
  • Cutting board
  • Tongs

Method
 

  1. Heat the oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the onion, carrots, and celery, and saute for 3 to 4 minutes. Then add the garlic and saute for another minute.
  2. Add the split peas, thyme, salt, and pepper. Stir together.
  3. Add the bay leaf, ham bone, chicken broth, and 3 cups of water. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat to a simmer, cover, and cook for 50 to 60 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the soup has thickened and the peas have broken down.
  4. Using tongs, remove the ham bone to a cutting board and dice the remaining meat (about 1 cup of diced ham), then add it back to the soup. Stir and simmer uncovered for an additional 5 to 15 minutes, or until it's thickened to your liking. If it's too thick, you can add another cup of water.
  5. Discard the bay leaf, ladle the soup into bowls, and garnish with finely chopped fresh parsley and black pepper.

Nutrition

Calories: 397kcalCarbohydrates: 53gProtein: 30gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 18mgSodium: 797mgPotassium: 1189mgFiber: 21gSugar: 9gVitamin A: 5303IUVitamin C: 18mgCalcium: 80mgIron: 4mg

Notes

The soup will continue to thicken as it sits, so it's best if it's not overly thick at this stage.

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