Pea and Ham Soup (slow cooker or stove)
User Reviews
5
-
Prep Time
10 mins
-
Cook Time
10 hrs
-
Servings
6 - 8
-
Calories
509 kcal
-
Course
Main Course, Soup
-
Cuisine
American
Pea and Ham Soup (slow cooker or stove)
Description
This recipe uses dried split peas that do not require soaking and a large ham hock to impart deep, smoky flavor into the soup. Peas, ham bone, minced garlic, bay leaves, finely chopped onion, carrot, and celery are combined with water and cooked slowly, either in a slow cooker or on the stove, until peas are tender and flavors meld. After cooking, the ham bone is removed, ham meat shredded and returned to the soup. Bay leaves are discarded. A stick blender is used twice or thrice to partially puree the soup, thickening it while leaving some texture, though complete smoothing is optional. The soup is seasoned with salt and black pepper to taste. Fresh chopped parsley garnishes the bowl. Crusty bread, such as Irish soda bread or garlic bread, is suggested for dunking, adding texture contrast to the creamy soup.
Ingredients
- 500g / 1lb split peas Note 1, dried
- 1.2-1.5kg / 2.4-3lb ham hock Note 2, aka ham bone, or bacon hock or meaty leftover ham bone
- 1/4 tsp salt (start with less, adjust later)
- 3/4 tsp black pepper
- 2 garlic minced, cloves
- 2 bay leaf dried or fresh
- 1 onion , finely chopped
- 1 carrot , peeled and finely chopped
- 2 celery finely chopped, sticks
- 8 cups (2 litres/qts) water
Garnishes / serving:
- parsley , finely chopped
- bread crusty; for dunking
Instructions
- Place peas in slow cooker, push ham in. Scatter all ingredients around the ham bone, then pour over water.
- Slow cook 8 to 10 hours on LOW or 6 hours on HIGH. (Or 2.5 hours on low on stove, 1 h - 1 hr 20 min pressure cooker/Instant Pot on HIGH)
- Remove ham bone, shred ham meat. Discard bone and fatty skin.
- Remove bay leaves. Use a stick blender to blitz 2 or 3 times - thickens soup but doesn't make it completely smooth (my preference, you can blend completely if you want).
- Return ham into slow cooker, stir. Taste and add more salt if needed (soup gets lots of salt from ham).
- Serve garnished with parsley. Serve with crusty bread for dunking - make a quick Irish Soda Bread, Garlic Bread or upgrade to Cheesy Garlic Bread!
Notes
- Split peas are dried peas that split during drying and do not need soaking, yielding a neutral earthy flavor.
- Use a ham bone with a good amount of meat to ensure flavor; if using leftover ham bone with little meat, add chopped ham pieces.
- If flavor is weak due to a lean ham bone, add chicken stock powder for a flavor boost.
- Split peas usually come pre-cleaned, but if sourced from bulk sacks, rinse before use.
- The soup freezes well for up to 3 months and keeps in the fridge for 4 to 5 days.
- Black pepper and salt should be added carefully toward the end to avoid over-salting, since ham imparts saltiness.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 6- 8
Amount Per Serving
Calories 509 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 2cups | |
| Calories | 509cal | 25% |
| Carbohydrates | 54g | 18% |
| Protein | 39g | 78% |
| Fat | 16g | 25% |
| Saturated Fat | 6g | 30% |
| Cholesterol | 70mg | 23% |
| Sodium | 296mg | 12% |
| Potassium | 1114mg | 24% |
| Fiber | 22g | 88% |
| Sugar | 8g | 16% |
| Vitamin A | 1823IU | 36% |
| Vitamin C | 4mg | 4% |
| Calcium | 78mg | 8% |
| Iron | 5mg | 28% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
You'll Also Love
