This easy recipe for Split Pea Soup can be made on the stove or in your slow cooker. The kick from a dash of chipotle powder and bites of Smoked Gouda keep things interesting. A cozy dinner for a lazy (or busy) day. Originally published April 2012.
Table of Contents
- Split Pea Soup with Ham
- Why you’ll love this Recipe for Split Pea Soup with Ham
- Split Pea Soup Ingredients
- How to Make Split Pea Soup with Ham
- What to serve with this Split Pea and Ham Soup Recipe
- How to Store Split Pea and Ham Soup
- Split Pea Soup Recipe with Ham FAQs
- Some other cozy soups you will love!
- Crock Pot Recipe for Split Pea Soup with Ham Recipe
So when I started this blog over 3 years ago, I of course posted all of my favorite recipes right away. What’s a food blog without the tried-and-trues? There are some recipes that I still make all the time for my family, but don’t get much attention here on the blog, because well, only my mom was reading then. Which is kind of a shame, because hello, look at this soup. You should be eating it.
I usually go back and change the story of the post too, to keep it fresh, but for some reason I just couldn’t let this one go. I mean, who could toss out a list of their favorite movie quotes? Apparently I can’t. So here it is, Karen From Yesteryear (circa April 2012):
Eric’s birthday is coming up. At work they sent him a get-to-know-you questionnaire so that they can read it at their next staff meeting. The last question was What is your favorite movie? Instead of naming one, he listed 16, complete with genre categories. That’s what you get when you ask people like Eric about movies.
For all you movie buffs, here’s Eric’s favorite “movie”:
Comedies: Groundhog Day. Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.
Classics: Casablanca. It’s a Wonderful Life. The General.
Animated: Ratatouille. Wall-E. Spirited Away.
Epics: Star Wars. Lord of the Rings. Indiana Jones.
Action: Inception. The Matrix.
Others: Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Cast Away. The Truman Show.
It got me thinking about some of my favorite movies, and of course my favorite quotes from them. Wanna hear some?
1. Han Solo: Keep your distance, Chewie, but don’t LOOK like you’re trying to keep your distance. [Chewie barks a question] Han Solo: I don’t know. Fly casual!
This is, of course, from Star Wars. I don’t even need to make an explanation for Han Solo’s awesomeness.
2. Chunk: Mikey, Mikey, this ain’t the kind of place you wanna go to the bathroom in.
Mama Fratelli: Why not?
Chunk: Because they might have daddy longlegs and um… dead things, Mikey, DEAD THINGS!
Goonies!! I was obsessed with this movie as a tween. What, you weren’t??
3. Miracle Max: Get back, witch.
Valerie: I’m not a witch, I’m your wife!
Vizinni: No more rhymes now, I mean it.
Fezzik: Anybody want a peanut?
These are from The Princess Bride, possibly the most quotable movie of all time.
4. I brought you flours. Harold Crick says this to Ana Pascal in Stranger Than Fiction when he brings her gourmet flours to bake with. My kind of man.
5. The kid is a L7 weenie. From the Sandlot. Yes please. (Do you want a s’more? Some more of what?)
6. Buzz! Your girlfriend! Woof!
Kevin Mcallister on Home Alone. I will never get over this movie. It cracks me up. Just the other day my friend and I were in our church’s kitchen and I held up a spoon and said, “Is this real silver?” And she whispered loudly, “Put it in your purse. Just put it in your purse!!” And I knew that I had found a Home Alone kindred spirit.
7. Dionne: Hello? There was a stop sign.
Cher: I totally paused.
This is from Clueless. I think this to myself every time I roll through a stop sign, and imagine myself saying it to a cop as an excuse. But officer, I totally paused!
Okay people. Your favorite movie quotes? Everybody’s got one! Come on, spill in the comments!
Hi, it’s the Real Me again. Let’s talk split pea. I usually make this soup around Easter when I have a leftover ham bone, but I was totally craving it recently. I didn’t feel like buying an entire ham just for soup, so I used a ham steak and it worked out beautifully. Make sure you add whatever bones you have to the soup, it lends great flavor.
The first time I made this, I used the ham bone from this Raspberry Chipotle Glazed Ham (my favorite ham, ever.) The chipotle gave the soup a little kick that I loved, so I’ve incorporated it into this recipe by adding chipotle chili powder. If you don’t have any, you could use regular chili powder, or omit entirely. I really love the extra layer of smokiness it adds, as if smoked ham and smoked gouda weren’t enough. << This, by the way, is totally not optional, in my opinion. Gouda for president!! It’s a game changer, friends.
Split Pea Soup with Ham
What the heck is split pea soup?? If you didn’t grow up eating it, it probably sounds…unappealing. I mean, pea soup doesn’t sound amazing, and now you’re telling me the peas in my soup are broken?
Well, yeah, actually. Split peas are just regular green peas, dried and then split in half so they’re faster to cook. Pea soup dates back to ancient times (I’m talking Egyptians and ancient Romans) and has been eaten by everyone: European peasants, sailors, people struggling in the Great Depression, you name it. It’s really good for you and the smoked ham and gouda make it taste amazing too.
Why you’ll love this Recipe for Split Pea Soup with Ham
I love soup!! It’s so comforting and warm on a freezing cold or rainy day (or worse, a freezing cold rainy day, blegh). This one is so homey and filling: I love the veggies, and I love the flavor. Smoked ham and gouda take a pretty basic soup to the next level.
Split Pea Soup Ingredients
Here’s a quick shopping list for you – scroll down to the recipe card below for more details about these ingredients and complete instructions.
- Dried split peas
- Chicken bouillon (I love Better than Bouillon)
- Bay leaves
- Onions
- Garlic
- Celery
- Carrots
- Smoked ham, on the bone (or a ham steak)
- Chipotle chile powder
- Dried thyme
- Salt and pepper
- Smoked gouda (chopped or shaved)
How to Make Split Pea Soup with Ham
Here’s an overview of how this soup comes together. For complete instructions, scroll down to the recipe card at the end of the post.
Stovetop Instructions:
- Rinse and sort the peas, then add to a large stock pot with water. Add chicken bouillon. Turn the heat to high and boil. Add the bay leaves, onions, garlic, celery, carrots, ham bone, and chipotle powder. Bring to a boil again, then reduce to a low simmer.
- Simmer for at least an hour and a half. If the ham is still on the bone, remove from the soup and chop, discarding the bone. Return the meat to the pot. Salt and pepper to taste.
- Remove soup from heat. Dice the smoked Gouda into bite-size cubes, or use a vegetable peeler to shave it. Add the cheese to the hot soup and stir.
Slow Cooker Instructions:
- Add the peas, water, chicken bouillon, bay leaves, onions, garlic, celery, carrots, ham, and chipotle powder to a very large crock pot. Turn it on to low and cook for at least 4 hours, or up to 8. Chop the ham and return, if necessary. Season to taste and garnish with smoked gouda.
What to serve with this Split Pea and Ham Soup Recipe
I love serving homemade bread with this soup. Here are some of my favorites!
Garlic Knots << it’s impossible to say no to these garlic buttery beauties
Grandma Prudy’s Rye Bread << this is not the rye bread you’re used to! It’s lighter, more mild, and insanely good sliced and toasted with butter.
Aunt Shirley’s Famous Dinner Rolls << so fluffy!! Shortening makes these rise super high.
Quick and Easy French Bread << only one hour to hot bread on your table?? It’s true!
Garlic and Rosemary Skillet Bread << baked in a cast iron for amazing crispy edges.
How to Store Split Pea and Ham Soup
This soup can be stored in the fridge for 3-4 days. You can also freeze it for 2-3 months. Either way, make sure it’s in an airtight container.
Split Pea Soup Recipe with Ham FAQs
Peas are picked from a field and sometimes they can be a little dirty or you might find a tiny pebble in there, so it’s a good idea to pick through them and rinse them (no soap needed).
Nope! The whole point of split peas is that they cook quickly, because they’ve been cut in half. You can soak them if you want, but it’s definitely not necessary (I didn’t).
If your split peas won’t cook down to a nice soft soup, they’re probably old. Like beans, split peas don’t have an infinite shelf life. If you’ve had them in the back of the pantry for a decade and you’re finally getting around to cooking them, be aware that they may take a very long time to soften (or may not soften at all).
Let me introduce you to my friends, smoked ham and smoked gouda, and their good buddy chipotle chili powder. Get these three together with your split pea soup and it’s party time. And don’t underestimate onions, garlic, and celery–you’ll find them in most soups, and it’s because they add so much subtle flavor.
Your split pea soup should never taste sour. We’re not adding any acidic ingredients, like vinegar or tomatoes, so if your soup tastes sour it may have been in a fridge too long and gone bad. This soup should taste earthy and smoky with just a tiny kick from the chili powder.
Unless you sprinkled some tortilla chips on top, no, it definitely shouldn’t be crunchy. If you’re eating crunchy split pea soup then the peas did not cook long enough. If you used split peas from the back of your pantry that you bought, oh, ten years ago, that may be your problem. Go buy a fresh bag of split peas and try again!
^^Here’s my original photo, just for kicks :)
Some other cozy soups you will love!
Italian Wedding Soup << homemade meatballs, hearty greens, incredible broth, even teeny tiny adorable pasta. Don’t miss this one!
Cream Cheese Chicken Chili << this would be great for Game Day! You could even serve it as a dip with tortilla chips. Yummm:
Cheeseburger Soup << in case you needed another way to eat cheeseburgers…this is the stuff.
Pressure Cooker Split Pea Soup with Ham from SkinnyTaste
Cauliflower and Yellow Split Pea Soup with Turmeric from Bojon Gourmet
Herbs de Split Pea Soup from Half-Baked Harvest
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Crock Pot Recipe for Split Pea Soup with Ham
Ingredients
- 2 cups dried split peas, rinsed and drained
- 10 cups water
- 3 tablespoons chicken bouillon
- 2 bay leaves
- 2 onions, chopped (3-4 cups)
- 2-4 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 stalks celery, chopped (about 2 cups)
- 3-4 medium carrots, chopped (2 cups)
- 1.5 pounds smoked ham, still on the bone, or a 1.25 lb ham steak*
- 1/4 teaspoon chipotle chile powder, or to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme, or to taste
- salt and pepper, to taste
- 6 ounces smoked Gouda, chopped into cubes or shaved
Instructions
- Rinse and sort the peas, then add to a large stock pot with 10 cups of water. Add 3 tablespoons chicken bouillon (I like the Better Than Bouillon brand). Turn the heat to high and boil for 2 minutes. Add the bay leaves, onions, garlic, celery, carrots, ham bone, and chipotle powder. Bring to a boil again, then reduce to a low simmer.
- Simmer for at least an hour and a half, or until the vegetables are soft and the soup is at a consistency you like. If the ham is still on the bone, remove from the soup and chop, discarding the bone. Return the meat to the pot.
- Salt and pepper to taste. Taste it first; remember, ham is very salty. You might not need any.
- Remove soup from heat. Dice the smoked Gouda into bite-size cubes, or use a vegetable peeler to shave it. Add the cheese to the hot soup and stir. Alternatively, you can add the cheese to each individual bowl.
Slow Cooker Instructions:
- Add the peas, water, chicken bouillon, bay leaves, onions, garlic, celery, carrots, ham, and chipotle powder to a very large crock pot. Turn it on to low and cook for at least 4 hours, or up to 8. Chop the ham and return, if necessary. Season to taste and garnish with smoked gouda.
Notes
If you use a ham steak, chop before adding to the soup, but be sure to add all of it, including the bone. Don’t trim the fat. That’s where much of the flavor comes from.
^^UPDATE 2017^^ I made this again a few weeks ago and didn’t bother chopping my ham steak before throwing it in the crock pot. I just tossed it in, then removed it after slow cooking, shredded it with 2 forks, and put it back in. I like the texture of the meat better this way, but either way will work great!
Best split pea soup I have ever made. Excellent recipe. Thank you.
How do you make this using leftover ham?
Hi Courtlyn! The recipe describes how to make this using a leftover ham bone. Just put the ham in the pot on the bone, and then chop or shred when it’s done cooking, and remove the bone.
Thank you for the yummy soups!!
Favorite movie quotes:
You’re killin’ me, Smalls!! Sand Lot
Ya done good, Buddy Boy! West Side Story
If I didn’t have bad luck, I’d have no luck at all. Bronx Tale
Yay thanks for sharing your quotes Gayle!! Sandlot is one of my favorite movies ever!!
How about an InstaPot conversion for this recipe?
That’s a great idea Kelli :) I’ll add it to my list!
OH MY GOD! My favorite soup with my favorite cheese…now why didnt I think of that! Pure Genius! Going to make it tomorrow….I am just giddy with excitement 🥰
I hope you love it as much as I do Jo Ann! The gouda really makes it amazing. Enjoy!!
We had the Raspberry Chipotle Ham yesterday. I am definitely making the split pea soup! I haven’t had that is years. And the ham was excellent by the way. The sauce was a big hit!
My favorite movie quote is from SEND ME NO FLOWERS with Doris Day. She thinks her husband has faked being a dying man in order to carry on with another woman. She is complaining to a friend: “He says he’s dying and then he doesn’t. Wouldn’t he think I’d get suspicious?”
Haven’t even heard of this movie Kathryn! It sounds hilarious! I need to look it up!
Amazing soup and so easy. Took no time at all to prepare!
Thanks Judi! I love this one. Thanks for the review!