Cozy Hearty Split Pea Soup with Ham Bone Recipe
This Cozy Hearty Split Pea Soup with Ham Bone is a comforting and flavorful meal perfect for chilly days. Featuring tender green split peas slow-simmered with a savory ham bone and fresh vegetables, this soup is rich in taste and easy to prepare. The combination of aromatic herbs and hearty ingredients creates a satisfying dish that’s both nutritious and filling.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 45 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Soup Ingredients
- 1 cup green split peas (rinsed)
- 1 ham bone (with some meat attached)
- 2 medium carrots (chopped)
- 2 stalks celery (chopped)
- 1 medium yellow onion (chopped)
- 3 cloves garlic (minced)
- 6 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 2 bay leaves
- Freshly cracked black pepper (to taste)
Instructions
- Sauté Vegetables: Heat a large pot over medium heat and add a small amount of oil. Add the chopped onions, carrots, and celery and sauté until tender, about 5 minutes. This develops the base flavor for the soup.
- Add Aromatics: Stir in the minced garlic, dried thyme, and bay leaves, cooking for an additional minute to release their aromas without burning the garlic.
- Combine Main Ingredients: Add the rinsed green split peas and the ham bone with attached meat to the pot, mixing everything well to combine the flavors.
- Add Broth and Simmer: Pour in 6 cups of low-sodium vegetable broth making sure all ingredients are submerged. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to low to let it simmer gently.
- Cook Soup: Let the soup simmer uncovered for about 1.5 hours or until the split peas are very soft and the soup has thickened nicely. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking.
- Finish and Serve: Remove the ham bone from the pot. Stir in freshly cracked black pepper to taste. Optionally, remove any remaining meat from the ham bone, shred it, and return it to the soup before serving.
Notes
- For a thicker soup, simmer longer to let more liquid evaporate or mash some peas against the pot’s side.
- Use low-sodium broth to control salt content, as the ham bone adds saltiness.
- Leftover soup stores well in the fridge for up to 4 days and freezes beautifully.
- For a vegetarian version, omit the ham bone and use vegetable broth only.
- You can add a splash of apple cider vinegar or lemon juice before serving to brighten the flavors.
Keywords: split pea soup, ham bone soup, hearty soup, cozy soup, vegetable broth soup, comfort food, easy soup recipe
