Save A hearty comforting soup packed with smoky flavor from bacon and canned ham perfect for chilly days.
The first time I made this split pea soup on a chilly weekend everyone was amazed by how delicious and filling it was. I love how simple it is to prepare using pantry ingredients but still delivers such rich smoky flavor.
Ingredients
- Bacon: 4 oz (115 g) chopped
- Canned Ham: 1 (12 oz/340 g) can diced (reserve juices if possible)
- Onion: 1 medium finely chopped
- Carrots: 2 medium diced
- Celery: 2 stalks diced
- Garlic: 2 cloves minced
- Dried Split Peas: 1 lb (450 g) rinsed and sorted
- Low-Sodium Chicken Broth: 6 cups (1.4 L)
- Water: 2 cups (480 ml)
- Bay Leaf: 1
- Dried Thyme: 1 tsp
- Black Pepper: 1/2 tsp
- Salt: to taste
Instructions
- Cook Bacon:
- In a large pot cook chopped bacon over medium heat until crisp. Remove bacon and set aside leaving fat in the pot.
- Sauté Vegetables:
- Add onion carrots and celery to the pot. Cook for 5–7 minutes stirring occasionally until vegetables are softened.
- Add Garlic:
- Stir in garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Add Main Ingredients:
- Add split peas diced canned ham chicken broth water bay leaf thyme and black pepper. Stir to combine.
- Simmer:
- Bring to a boil then reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer for 1 hour stirring occasionally until peas are very tender.
- Purée or Chunky:
- Remove bay leaf. Use an immersion blender to partially purée the soup for creaminess if desired or leave it chunky.
- Season:
- Taste and season with additional salt and pepper if needed.
- Serve:
- Serve hot garnished with reserved crispy bacon.
Save This soup brings back memories of cold evenings when my family gathered in the kitchen sharing stories over steaming bowls. The smoky aroma would draw everyone in for seconds.
Required Tools
Large pot or Dutch oven slotted spoon knife and cutting board immersion blender (optional)
Allergen Information
Contains pork (bacon ham) may contain gluten if canned ham or broth contains additives check labels contains celery
Nutritional Information
Per serving: Calories 350 Total Fat 11 g Carbohydrates 36 g Protein 23 g
Save Serve this split pea soup hot with crusty bread or crackers. It is the ultimate comfort meal for any chilly day.
Common Questions
- → Can I use fresh ham instead of canned ham?
Yes, fresh ham can be used but may require adjusting cooking time and seasoning to maintain the smoky, rich flavor.
- → How do I prevent the soup from becoming too thick upon reheating?
Thin the soup by adding water or broth when reheating to reach your desired consistency.
- → Is it necessary to cook the bacon before adding it to the soup?
Cooking bacon until crisp releases its fat, enhancing flavor and texture; reserving crispy bits for garnish adds a tasty crunch.
- → Can I omit the immersion blender step?
Yes, leaving the soup chunky provides a heartier texture, but partial puréeing can create a creamier consistency.
- → What can I add to enhance flavor if I remove ham and bacon?
For vegetarian versions, smoked paprika adds depth; using vegetable broth instead of chicken broth keeps it flavorful.