Split Pea Soup Recipe
Description
Indulge in the ultimate comfort food on a cold day with this hearty Split Pea Soup recipe! This soul-warming dish, credited to Toronto chef Christine Cushing, is a delightful blend of flavors and textures. While the original recipe calls for a smoked ham hock, I recommend using a meaty bone from a spiral-cut ham for a delicious twist. This soup reaches its peak thickness on day two, but if you prefer a heartier, more rustic consistency, feel free to increase the amount of peas to 2 cups.
Recipe Category: Clear Soup
Keywords: Pork, Meat, Kid Friendly, Winter, Beginner Cook, Small Appliance, < 4 Hours, Easy, Inexpensive
Nutritional Information
- Calories: 371.1 per serving
- Fat Content: 9.3g
- Saturated Fat Content: 3.8g
- Cholesterol Content: 22.2mg
- Sodium Content: 625.7mg
- Carbohydrate Content: 49.7g
- Fiber Content: 13.7g
- Sugar Content: 12.3g
- Protein Content: 22.9g
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp butter
- 1 large yellow onion, diced
- 1 carrot, diced
- 1 celery stalk, diced
- 1 leek, sliced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 meaty bone from a spiral-cut ham (or 1 smoked ham hock)
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 1/2 tbsp fresh thyme leaves
- 2 tsp chili flakes (optional)
- 1 cup dried split peas
- 10 cups water or stock
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh coriander (cilantro)
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
| Step | Description |
|---|---|
| 1 | In a Dutch oven or large soup pot, melt the butter over medium heat. |
| 2 | Add the diced onion, carrot, celery, leek, and minced garlic. Cook until softened, about 5 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally. |
| 3 | Add the meaty bone from the spiral-cut ham (or smoked ham hock), bay leaves, fresh thyme leaves, chili flakes (if using), and dried split peas to the pot. Cook for an additional 2 minutes. |
| 4 | Increase the heat to high and pour in the water or stock. Bring the mixture to a boil. |
| 5 | Reduce the heat to low and simmer the soup, partially covered, for about 2 hours, or until the split peas are tender, stirring occasionally. |
| 6 | Once the split peas are soft, remove the meaty bone from the pot. Take the meat off the bone and set it aside. Discard the bay leaves and any thyme stalks. |
| 7 | Using a hand-held blender, purée some of the soup to your desired consistency. If the soup is too thick, add more water or stock to reach your preferred thickness. |
| 8 | Return the reserved meat to the pot. Bring the soup back to a boil and add the chopped fresh coriander and parsley. |
| 9 | Season the soup to taste with salt and freshly ground black pepper. |
| 10 | Serve the Split Pea Soup hot and enjoy its comforting flavors! |
This recipe yields approximately 6 servings. Perfect for sharing with family and friends, or for enjoying leftovers throughout the week. Serve it alongside crusty bread or a simple salad for a satisfying meal. Get ready to cozy up with a bowl of this delicious Split Pea Soup—it’s sure to warm you up from the inside out! 🍲✨
