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Best Split Pea Soup Recipe

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This hearty split pea soup delivers thick, flavorful comfort in every bowl, made with a meaty ham bone, tender vegetables, and simple steps. Perfect for stovetop, Instant Pot, or Crock Pot, it requires no soaking and tastes even better the next day.

Ingredients

Scale

Dry split peas

1 lb (2 cups)

Yellow preferred for color; rinse only, no soak needed

Meaty ham bone

1 large

Leftover from holidays; substitutes in notes

Diced ham

2 cups

Shredded from bone at end

Onions

2 cups, diced

Yellow or white for sweetness

Carrots

2 cups, diced

Adds color and natural sugar

Russet potatoes

2 medium, peeled and diced

For heartiness

Garlic

1 tbsp minced

Fresh for punch

Onion powder

1 tbsp

Boosts flavor evenly

Butter

1 tbsp

For richness

Olive oil

2 tbsp

Prevents sticking

Fresh thyme

2 sprigs

Or 1 tsp dried

Bay leaves

2

Remove before serving

Water

8 cups

Or half chicken stock for extra umami

Salt and pepper

To taste

Added at end

Instructions

1. Rinse split peas under cold water; drain. Add to a 4.5-quart Dutch oven or large pot with ham bone, onions, garlic, onion powder, butter, olive oil, thyme, bay leaves, and water.

2. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to low simmer. Cover partially and cook 2-2.5 hours, stirring occasionally, until peas break down and soup thickens. (Higher altitudes: add 1-2 hours.)

3. Stir in carrots and potatoes 40 minutes before end. Test tenderness with a fork.

4. Remove ham bone, bay leaves, and thyme stems. Shred 2 cups ham from bone, chop, and return to pot with diced ham. Season with salt and pepper. Serve hot.

Notes

Stovetop method shown.

Instant Pot: All ingredients except carrots/potatoes, high pressure 25 min + 15 min natural release, then saute veggies 10-15 min.

Crock Pot: All except carrots/potatoes on low 8 hrs, add veggies last hour.

 

Split peas don’t need soaking. For thicker soup, simmer longer. No ham bone? Add 4 bouillon cubes or 1.5 cups diced ham steak.

Vegetarian: Use vegetable broth, 1 tsp smoked paprika, 1/2 tsp liquid smoke.

 

Storage: Fridge 5 days, freeze 3 months. Reheat with water splash.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://yummyyrecipe.com/best-split-pea-soup-recipe/