Just like your favorite restaurant, Andersen’s Split Pea Soup Recipe is hearty and delicious! Creamy soup, loaded with vegetables and beans, it’s a hearty meal! Fortified with ham, this stew is comforting and filling. For just pennies a serving, this is a delicious meal your family will enjoy!
Mom stayed home when we were kids until about the time I was in the second grade. Then she went to work at the Junior High School as a part-time cook.
Ingredients
- 1 16 oz bag dried split peas
- 1 yellow onion diced
- 2 carrots peeled and diced
- 1 stalk celery diced
- 1 yam peeled and diced
- 1 pound ham diced
- 4 cups chicken stock
- 4 cups water
- 1 clove garlic
- 1/2 tsp pepper
- 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
- 1 tsp thyme fresh thyme, minced
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar optional
- 3 tbsp chopped parsley optional
Instructions
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Chop the vegetables. Peel and dice the onion, carrots and the yam. Dice the celery. Mince the garlic and the thyme.
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Heat a heavy bottom stock pot over medium high heat. When hot, add the olive oil, then the vegetables. Everything except the garlic.
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Add pepper, red pepper flakes, bay leaf and thyme. Saute over medium heat, stirring occasionally, about 5 minutes.
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The last 30 seconds of sautéing add the minced garlic.
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While the vegetables and spices are cooking away, dice the ham into a small dice.
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Next add the ham to stockpot and stir well. Add the split peas, reserving ½ cup.
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Add the chicken stock and water. Increase the heat to high and bring it to a boil. Reduce to medium and simmer at a low boil for 45-50 minutes (see notes.*) While it is cooking, give it several good vigorous stirs. Simmer uncovered.
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Taste to adjust seasonings – you may need to add some salt, but chances are good the salt from the ham will be enough.
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Optional step – when the soup is cooked turn off the heat. Chop a handful of parsley and add it to this soup along with a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar. This addition will brighten the flavors and really enhance this soup!
Notes
*Reserve ½ cup of split peas. After the first 10 minutes of cooking, add the remaining split peas (this step is optional, but I enjoy soup with texture). Simmer an additional 35-40 minutes until the beans are tender.
Want to up your soup game? Chop all vegetables into a small dice so each spoonful has all of the delicious ingredients in each bite.
No leftover ham? Buy a ham steak, they are sold individually at the grocery store and the flavor is so good. Perfect for soups & stews!
