Split Pea Soup Recipe (2024)

Recipes | Appetizers | Soup | Split Pea Soup

Soup

Author by Amanda Davis on Updated on

5 from 4 votes

Split Pea Soup is hearty soup filled with protein, veggies and carbs, perfect for sustaining you during cold weather. Enjoy this classic, family soup recipe which is a meal in and of itself!

Cook Time 2 hours hrs

Total Time 2 hours hrs 15 minutes mins

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Split Pea Soup Recipe (1)

Split Pea Soup is hearty soup filled with protein, veggies,and carbs perfect for sustaining you during cold weather. Enjoy this classic, family soup recipe which is a meal in and of itself!

This ranks right up there with my French Onion Soup recipe!

Split Pea Soup Recipe (2)

Split Pea Soup

Hi Everyone, looking for a hearty, classic soup to get you through this Winter? This Split Pea Soup is packed with protein, lots of veggies and carbs making it a veritable meal in a bowl and so satisfying.

Split Pea Soup is one of those recipes that you grow up with (or at least I did!) and happily remember having. Split Pea Soup was one of the standard recipes that my dad would make on the weekend or at the beginning of the week and it had this way of just lasting and lasting throughout the week. As the soup sets, it thickens and you have to add water or broth to the soup to get it back to the original consistency, thus making the soup last a long time!

Split Pea Soup Recipe (3)

This soup is loaded with veggies: it has 2 onions, 3 celery stalks, 3 carrots, plus the peas of course! Well, technically the peas are the seed and considered a legume :) There is lots of dietary fiber in the peas as well.

Split Pea Soup Recipe (4)

Ingredients forSplit Pea Soup

  • 1 bag (1 pound) dried green split peas (they do not need to be pre-soaked)
  • 2 quarts water, plus 2-4 cups (if you need to thin out the broth)
  • 1 1/2 pounds diced ham (I use the butt portion versus the shank side of a ham bone because it’s leaner)
  • 2 (8 ounces) medium onions, thinly sliced
  • 2 dried whole bay leaves
  • 1/2 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper, plus more for serving
  • 1/8 teaspoon marjoram, optional
  • 3 celery stalks, chopped
  • 3 carrots (about 13 ounces) , ends removed, peeled and chopped
  • 1 (about 9 ounces) medium potato, diced
  • salt and fresh ground black pepper, to taste, if needed (there may be enough salt from the ham to flavor the soup)

Split Pea Soup Recipe (5)

Helpful Kitchen Tools forSplit Pea Soup

Split Pea Soup Recipe (6)

This soup is so easy to make and with a little simmer time, you can have a hearty, filling and satisfying soup for you and your family. I also love this soup because it’s inexpensive to make and you can make it with leftover ham, like, after a holiday.

Split Pea Soup Recipe (7)

This recipe is inspired by my dad’s split pea soup growing up which he would make often around this time of year; there’s nothing like pea soup on a cold Winter day!

Split Pea Soup Recipe (8)

If you try this Split Pea Soup recipe, let us know in the comments below!

More of our favorite soup recipes:

  • Ham and Bean Soup
  • Cream of Asparagus Soup
  • Healthy Vegetable Soup
  • Crockpot Creamy Cauliflower Soup
  • Italian Sausage Tomato Orzo Soup
  • Slow Cooker Butternut Squash Soup

Split Pea Soup Recipe (9)

Split Pea Soup

Split Pea Soup is hearty soup filled with protein, veggies and carbs, perfect for sustaining you during cold weather. Enjoy this classic, family soup recipe which is a meal in and of itself!

5 from 4 votes

IMPORTANT - There are often Frequently Asked Questions within the blog post that you may find helpful. Simply scroll back up to read them!

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Course: Soup

Cuisine: American

Servings: 6 people

2 hours hrs 15 minutes mins

Calories: 584

Author: Amanda Formaro

Ingredients

  • 16 ounces green split peas (1 bag) (1 lb/454 grams)
  • 2 quarts water
  • 1 1/2 pounds ham diced
  • 2 medium yellow onions thinly sliced
  • 1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt optional, amount to taste, depending on how salty the ham is
  • 1/4 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper 1/4-1/2 teaspoon- OR pepper medley
  • 2 dried bay leaves whole
  • 1/4 teaspoon dried marjoram leaves
  • 3 stalks celery chopped
  • 3 medium carrots about 13 oz- ends chopped, peeled and chopped
  • 1 medium potato about 9 oz- diced

Before You Begin

  • you can soak the peas overnight, if you want to speed up the cooking time of the recipe (the peas will just break down faster), however, I found this not to be necessary for making the recipe.
  • If the skins of the carrots are in good shape, you can skip peeling them. Just make sure they are washed well and the ends are cut off.
  • If you have a ham bone that came with the ham, you can absolutely add it to the soup from the very beginning, when you add the ham, as it's cooking, or up until before serving.

Instructions

  • In a large soup pot on the stove top, over medium-high heat, heat 2 quarts of water, peas, sliced, onions, pepper, ham, bay leaves and optional marjoram. Stir to combine. Bring to a boil and then reduce to a simmer. Simmer for 1 1/2 hours, stirring intermittently.

    Split Pea Soup Recipe (10)

  • After simmering for 1 1/2 hours, remove the bay leaves and add the carrots, potatoes, and celery. Stir to combine. Bring to a boil again and reduce to a simmer. Cook for a half hour. Towards the end, optionally you can add 2-4 cups of water or chicken or vegetable broth to thin out the broth depending on how thick or thin you like it. If you choose to use water, you may need to add more salt, however, the ham, probably has enough salt to season the soup.

    Split Pea Soup Recipe (11)

  • When the vegetables are tender, add more salt and pepper to taste; serve and enjoy!

    Split Pea Soup Recipe (12)

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 584cal | Carbohydrates: 57g | Protein: 44g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 70mg | Sodium: 1609mg | Potassium: 1415mg | Fiber: 21g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 5300IU | Vitamin C: 10.6mg | Calcium: 96mg | Iron: 5.7mg

Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Follow on Pinterest @AmandaFormaro or tag #AmandasCookin!

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Amanda Davis

Amanda Davis is the entrepreneurial mom of four grown children and four step children. She and her husband, Chef Antoine, love to cook together creating recipes for this blog. Amanda also make kid's crafts and creates decorative items for her home. She is a crafting expert and guru in the kitchen and has appeared online and in print publications many times over the years. She is also a craft book author five times over and product developer as well as the owner of FunFamilyCrafts.com. You can find her on social media by using the buttons to the left!

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. joetta dawson says

    Split Pea Soup Recipe (13)
    Perfect to make after having Easter ham .

    Fam enjoyed it !

    LOVE

    Reply

  2. Lang says

    Split Pea Soup Recipe (14)
    Thank you for the weight measurement! It can be frustrating when a likely great recipe only gives quantity. What if my veggies are smaller, etc.

    Reply

  3. Karly says

    Love how thick and hearty this is! Thanks for sharing!

    Reply

    • Amanda Formaro says

      Thanks Karly, we love split pea!

      Reply

  4. Kathy B says

    It looks like you add the potatoes when you add the carrots and celery, but it doesn’t say in the recipe (unless I missed it)?

    Reply

    • Amanda Formaro says

      Thanks for pointing that out! I’ve corrected the recipe :)

      Reply

  5. Dave says

    sorry, but me and Veggies are not the best of friends, am strictly a meat eater, except for raw green salads and I have reached a very healthy, fit 72 on that diet

    Reply

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Split Pea Soup Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Do split peas need to be soaked before cooking? ›

Split peas, like lentils, do not need to be soaked before cooking. Beans require soaking prior to cooking, but because these are peas they can be used directly in the recipe. It is still a good idea to rinse your peas thoroughly before cooking to remove any dirt particles.

How do you add flavor to a bland split pea soup? ›

My typical go to additions are onions, carrots, and potatoes and maybe a little garlic.

What thickens split pea soup? ›

How to Thicken Split Pea Soup. The potato should make your split pea soup perfectly thick and creamy. However, if the soup is still too thin for your liking, you can thicken it up with full-fat cream (though it may alter the flavor a bit) or a cornstarch slurry.

Does soaking split peas reduce gas? ›

Digestive spices such as hing, ginger, and cumin help to make split pea soup less gas-producing. Rinsing and soaking your split peas also helps them to create less gas.

What happens if you don't rinse split peas? ›

Whether you soak or not, split peas should be rinsed, simply to remove dust or dirt. You can also soak them in water to pick them over for stones, but the chances of finding one are slim.

What happens if you don't soak peas before cooking? ›

Is Soaking Beans Necessary? Don't worry about soaking lentils, split peas, or black-eyed peas (or cowpeas). Lentils and peas are softer than dried beans. They'll cook within 5 to 20 minutes without any soaking time.

What makes split pea soup taste better? ›

Add a bit of lemon zest to make those peas really sing. You can try the fresh pea approach with your favorite split pea soup recipe, but this super traditional, easy version is an Epicurious favorite.

How do you spruce up split pea soup? ›

Ham, bacon, and sausage all go exceptionally well with peas. One of the most traditional ways of making split pea soup is to flavor it with ham bones. Most recipes include onion, celery, carrots, and potatoes. In the herb department, bay leaves, thyme, mint, marjoram, rosemary, and parsley are all delicious additions.

Why are the peas hard in my split pea soup? ›

If the peas are very old and dried out, they won't soften.

Can you overcook pea soup? ›

Update: If you overcook, the soup will get even thicker than usual! and turn a little bit of an olive drab color--it will still taste good though!"

How much water do I use for 2 cups of split peas? ›

Cooking. Bring about 1.5 cups of water or broth to a boil for every cup of lentils or split peas. Add the lentils, allow water to return to boiling, reduce heat, partially cover pan, and simmer for 30 to 45 minutes, depending on the variety.

Why did my split pea soup turn brown? ›

If you cook peas for too long the soup turns a brown color more than a green color.

Is split pea soup a laxative? ›

Yes, Pea is good for constipation. Pea is a rich source of fiber that might improve the bowel movement and relieve constipation. Pea also helps in the growth of intestinal bacteria. This helps to improve intestinal health[9].

What can I put in peas to prevent gas? ›

A Dietitian's Guide to Reducing Flatulence when Eating Legumes
  1. Rinse your cooked legumes. The first thing you can do is drain and rinse your legumes. ...
  2. Cook your legumes thoroughly. ...
  3. Add baking soda to your legumes. ...
  4. Try alpha-galactosidase supplements. ...
  5. Eat more legumes.
Jul 31, 2022

Can I boil split peas instead of soaking? ›

Add the split peas to a pot with your preferred cooking liquid—water, vegetable broth, and bone broth are all good options. Bring to a boil over high heat, stir, then reduce heat, cover, and simmer until the split peas are tender, but not mushy and most of the liquid is absorbed.

How long does it take to cook dry split peas? ›

Stovetop. Rinse split peas before cooking. Place 1 cup of split peas in a large pot with 2 cups of water and ½ tsp salt. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer, cover and cook until smooth, 25 minutes.

What happens if you don't soak yellow split peas? ›

However, you don't technically need to soak peas before cooking with them. It just cuts down on a lot of cooking time if you soak them first.

What happens if you forget to soak green peas overnight? ›

Is it Necessary to Soak Green Peas? You can cook dried green peas without soaking them in liquid, but they will take far longer to cook. Unsoaked green split peas will take approximately 35-45 minutes; unsoaked whole green peas take up to 75 minutes to cook.

How do you soften split peas when cooking? ›

If you added salt too early or if your broth contained a high amount of salt from the start, this could keep the peas hard. If the peas aren't softening after the second simmering, stir in ¼ teaspoon of baking soda to the pot. It will foam up at first but subsides as it cooks.

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