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Split Pea and Ham Soup

5 from 6 votes
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posted: 04/12/20

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This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy

This Split Pea and Ham Soup is such delicious and easy comfort food. With very little prep time, you get an amazing soup everyone will love.

a white bowl on a wood surface full of split pea soup, garnished with fresh parsley

One of the reasons I like soup recipes so much is because you can get a complete meal with very little hands on time.

This Split Pea Soup with Ham is no exception. While it takes over an hour on the stove top, the time involved with it is minimal.

It is the perfect way to use up left over ham, and is a delicious dinner that the whole family is sure to love.

SPLIT PEA SOUP INGREDIENTS

I love how few ingredients you need for this great soup.

  • Dry Split Green Peas
  • Salt & Pepper
  • Dried Thyme
  • Carrots
  • Onions
  • Celery
  • Ham
  • Lemon Juice

And I love that most of these ingredients are things I always have on hand.

a galvanized baking sheet filled with dry split green peas on a white marble countertop

HOW TO PREPARE DRIED GREEN PEAS

Dried green peas are so great to have on hand because they last in your pantry for so long.

To prepare them:

  1. Spread your dry split green peas out on a baking sheet.
  2. Sort through them to make sure there are no rocks or stones.
  3. Rinse them in a colander, and drain them.

Now they are good to go!

overhead view of a teal dutch oven full of split pea and ham soup with lots of fresh parsley on top

HOW TO MAKE SPLIT PEA AND HAM SOUP

This split pea soup is super simple to make. For the full printable recipe, make sure to head to the bottom of the post.

  1. Add water, seasonings, and the green peas to a dutch oven or stock pot.
  2. Bring to a boil and then reduce to a simmer for 1 hour.
  3. Add in carrots, onions, and celery and cook for 25 minutes.
  4. Add in the diced ham and cook until warmed.
  5. Taste and add lemon juice, and more salt and pepper as needed.

WHY LEMON JUICE

You’ll notice that in both this soup recipe and in my Pea Soup recipe we add lemon juice.

Lemon juice can do a lot of different things for a recipe. Adding an acid can balance out sweetness in a recipe (and vice versa). It can tenderize meat. It can also cut the heaviness in a recipe that is fatty.

In this recipe, it adds a freshness that works so well with the ham and the peas.

STORING & FREEZING

I love how easy soup is to store and freeze. After allowing this recipe to cool, you can put left overs in an airtight container and stir in the refrigerator for up to three days.

To freeze, place in a sealable container. Allow room for the soup to expand when it freezes. Freeze for up to two months.

Please keep in mind when reheating leftovers, any food not eaten should be discarded and not stored again.

overhead view of a white bowl filled with spit pea and ham soup recipe with chunks of ham, carrots, and fresh parsley visible, two pieces of bread, two spoons on a wood surface

OTHER GREAT WAYS TO USE LEFT OVER HAM

If you have left over ham and need more ways to use it, check out some of our other favorites:

If you loved this soup recipe (or any of my other recipes) come back and leave me a comment to let me know!

a white bowl on a wood surface full of split pea soup, garnished with fresh parsley
5 from 6 votes

Split Pea and Ham Soup

Serves: 6 people
(tap # to scale)
Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 1 hour 35 minutes
Total: 1 hour 50 minutes
This Split Pea and Ham Soup is such delicious and easy comfort food. With very little prep time, you get an amazing soup everyone will love.

Ingredients

  • 1 pound split green peas sorted through for rocks, and rinsed
  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt plus more to taste (see note)
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
  • 8 cups water
  • 2 medium carrots peeled and cut into half moons
  • 2 small yellow onions diced
  • 2 celery stalks diced
  • 8 ounces ham cubbed
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice

Instructions

  • Add the water, salt, pepper, grean peas, and thyme to a large stock pot. Bring to a boil and then reduce to a simmer, covering. Simmer for 1 hour.
  • After an hour, add the carrots, onions and celery. Cook for 25 minutes or until the peas are soft and broken down.
  • Add in the diced ham and cook about 10 minutes or until it is warmed through.
  • Stir in the lemon juice. Taste and add more salt and pepper to taste.

Notes

Taste varies, especially when it comes to salt. If you tend to find food too salty, don’t add the full amount of salt until the end, adding a little at time until you find what you like. I used 2 1/2 teaspoons in my recipe.
Author: Lisa Longley
Course: dinner
Cuisine: American
a white bowl on a wood surface full of split pea soup, garnished with fresh parsley

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Split Pea and Ham Soup

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Hi! I'm Lisa Longley, and I am committed to giving you simple dinner ideas and recipes that are easy to make; recipes that will fill your home with joy. I am the owner and author of SimpleJoy.com and I'm so glad that you are here.

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  1. Micheline Briere says

    My mom used to cook a ham shank and add the peas half way thru. Your way seems a lot easier thanks

    • Lisa Longley says

      The ham shank definitely deepens the flavor, but I wanted to give another method too. I hope you like it!

  2. Jennie says

    5 stars
    I have never made much a delicious pea soup as this.
    This is so flavorful … I love it, Thanks

    • Lisa Longley says

      Glad you like it!

  3. Cathy says

    This looks amazing and with leftover Easter ham – perfect! Thanks for sharing.

    Can this be made in a crockpot?

    • Lisa Longley says

      Hi Cathy! I’m sure it can be made in the slow cooker, but I haven’t tried that yet and can’t give you specifics on the amount of liquid you need or the timing. I will add it to the list!

  4. Mollie Bean says

    5 stars
    It’s in the pot! I added A couple bay leaves and a ham bone in the beginning (first hour) I then added the ummm more than 8 oz diced ham I think it’s a delicious recipe so far

    • Lisa Longley says

      I hope you loved it Mollie!

  5. Hilda Froese says

    5 stars
    I tried the soup yesterday. Absolutely delicious. I used a ham bone for more flavour and it turned out great. Thank you so much for sharing your recipe.

    • Lisa Longley says

      I’m so happy you liked it Hilda!

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