SMOKED HAM SPLIT PEA SOUP
Jason Glover
Author
Jason Glover
Servings
6
Prep Time
20 minutes
Cook Time
1 hour 20 minutes
This recipe brings me back to when my grandmother and mom made this yummy soup on a rainy night or even when we had a random cold Spring day. Coming home from school and smelling the soup on the stove was such a highlight of my childhood. My grandmother would use the ham bone from Easter and add a little extra of the sliced ham. My kid now loves it too!
Ingredients
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2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
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1 medium onion, diced
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3 carrots, peeled and diced
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3 ribs celery, diced
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2 cloves garlic, minced
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1 lb split peas, rinsed
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½ tsp dried thyme
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½ tsp kosher salt
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½ tsp freshly ground black pepper
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1 bay leaf
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1 meaty bone-in ham hock (I used a smoked ham hock for added flavor)
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4 cups low-sodium chicken bone broth or chicken stock
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3-4 cups water
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1 cup diced ham from ham bone
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Finely chopped fresh parsley, for garnish
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Croutons, for garnish
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Maldon or kosher salt, for finishing
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1 meaty bone-in ham hock
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(I used a smoked ham hock for added flavor)
Tools
Directions
- Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add the onion, carrots, and celery and sauté for 3 to 4 minutes, until the onions become translucent. Stir in the garlic and sauté for another minute.
- Add the split peas, thyme, salt, and pepper to the pot and stir together.
- Add the bay leaf, ham bone, chicken broth, and 3 cups of water. Bring to a boil, then 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.
- 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. If it isn't thick enough, I make a slurry of 2 teaspoons of cornstarch and 1/3 cup or more of water to add to the soup. Note that the soup will continue to thicken as it sits or if you refrigerate overnight.
- Discard the bay leaf, ladle the soup into bowls, and garnish with finely chopped fresh parsley and croutons. I also like to finish each bowl with a sprinkle of Maldon or kosher salt.