Hearty Split Pea Soup (Print Version)

Rich, comforting soup with split peas, vegetables, and herbs. Perfect for chilly fall evenings.

# What You Need:

→ Legumes

01 - 2 cups dried split peas, rinsed and picked over

→ Vegetables

02 - 1 large onion, diced
03 - 2 medium carrots, diced
04 - 2 celery stalks, diced
05 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
06 - 1 medium Yukon gold potato, peeled and diced

→ Meats

07 - 1 smoked ham hock or 8 oz diced smoked ham (omit for vegetarian/vegan version)

→ Liquids

08 - 8 cups low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth
09 - 1 bay leaf

→ Spices & Seasonings

10 - 1 tsp dried thyme
11 - 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
12 - 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
13 - 1 tsp salt (to taste, add more as needed)

→ Optional Finishes

14 - 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
15 - 1 tbsp olive oil (for sautéing)

# Directions:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large soup pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add diced onion, carrots, celery, and a pinch of salt. Sauté for 5–7 minutes until vegetables are softened and fragrant.
02 - Stir minced garlic into the pot and cook for 1 minute until fragrant, being careful not to burn it.
03 - Add diced potato, rinsed split peas, bay leaf, dried thyme, black pepper, smoked paprika, and ham hock if using. Pour in the broth and stir everything to combine thoroughly.
04 - Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Simmer uncovered for 1 to 1.5 hours, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking, until peas are completely tender and soup has thickened considerably.
05 - Remove the ham hock if used, shred any meat from the bone, and return the shredded meat to the pot. Discard the bay leaf.
06 - Taste the soup and adjust salt as needed. For a smoother texture, lightly mash some peas against the pot side with a spoon or use an immersion blender for a partially pureed consistency.
07 - Ladle hot soup into bowls, garnish with chopped fresh parsley, and serve immediately.

# Insider Tips:

01 -
  • This soup practically cooks itself once everything's in the pot
  • The texture becomes luxuriously creamy without any actual cream
  • Leftovers taste even better the next day
02 -
  • This soup thickens dramatically as it cools, almost into a stew consistency
  • A splash of lemon juice right before serving brightens everything surprisingly well
  • If you forget to rinse the peas, you might end up with grit in your soup
03 -
  • Make a double batch and freeze individual portions for emergency comfort food
  • The soup tastes even better after resting overnight in the refrigerator

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