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Split Pea Soup

Last year my sister and I sat around my dad's kitchen table complimenting him on his pea soup. Our dad has become quite the cook since becoming a widower and he loves it when we ask him for his recipes. This has become one of our favourites. I make it in a crock pot but it can be made on the stove top as well. This soup freezes well and is perfect to bring along camping or deliver to a shut in.

Ingredients:
  • 2 cups dry green peas
  • 2 cups lean ham, cubes ( I use left over ham or purchase a large ham steak and cut it up)
  • 2 carrots, grated
  • 1 large onion, chopped fine
  • 2 cloves garlic, crushes
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp pepper
  • 6 1/2 cups boiling water
  • 1 cup hot milk (optional)
Method:
  1. Wash and rinse peas and place in the bottom of the crock pot. (no need to soak peas)
  2. Cut us meat and vegetables and place over peas. Add spices.
  3. Pour boiling water over all and give mixture a stir.
  4. Cover crock pot and turn on low. Let cook for 6-8 hours. If cooking on the stove top you will need to turn to low and stir once in a while so soup does not scorch. If cooking on the stove top soup could be ready in 3-4 hours. Make sure peas have completely gone to mush. Soup will be thick.
  5. Once soup is fully done you can add the hot milk and stir well to incorporate. This is optional. 
Serves 4

14 comments:

  1. I make my split pea soup much the same way. I was cleaning out my pantry drawer the other day and found a bag of split peas and I happen to be making a ham today....so I'm all set.

    Thanks for sharing the story and the recipe.

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  2. My daughter LOVES split pea soup...so I will definitely give this a go. (I am not very keen on split pea soup myself but this sounds good).

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  3. Split peas make good soup even without any extras. i've found smoked ham tastes best for flavoring. just before serving, i often add fresh frozen green peas - it makes a "double-pea" pea soup! - split peas are versatile and very eonomical.

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  4. has anyone ever attempted a variation using lentils? for some reason I have a huge bag of lentils in my cupboard. they would get even mushier than split peas though????

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    Replies
    1. lentils totally work - I found the soup to be a little thinner, though. So I usually add a few diced, cooked potatoes to thicken...yum.

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    2. thanks Joanne!!

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  5. Yummm...and one of my favourites too!

    Blessings to All,
    Anna (Toronto)

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  6. I like putting lentils into the pea soup. Also, brown up some bacon - nice and crispy little 'chips' flavor the soup which my husband just loves. We prefer having half and half and no water; chicken broth and white wine are the 3 'liquids'. Also plenty of fresh cracked pepper and we're set!

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  7. That soup looks amazing. Such a nice story about your dad and how he loves to cook! When visiting Newfoundland a few summers ago we had the most wonderful split pea soup that looked just like this and they put dumplings in it too - sooooo yummy!

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  8. If you want a kosher kind of split pea, you can make it with short ribs! I have a recipe up here ...

    http://cicerosrecipes.blogspot.ca/2008/12/split-pea-soup-with-short-ribs.html

    ... and it actually turns out quite tasty.

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  9. Great post Kath!! Yes our Dad has become quite the cook (and healthy too!) I've never really like split pea soup in the past but somehow this one is so very delicious & hearty! Nothing like coming home from work and supper is ready to go! Rhoda

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  10. My crock pot has been getting quite a workout this hot, hot summer. Pea soup is my all time favorite so I'm glad to learn I can still make it in the summer. Smoked turkey wings or drums also give a great smokey, meaty taste if you're not a pork-eater or just want to cut a few calories.

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  11. I always add hock or ham bone and allow the meat to fall off, it gives the soup a richer flavour. And I add diced celery to my soup too, at the end of cooking we always add one teaspoon of sugar. My husband likes me to add a tin of mushy peas (which are very English).

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  12. This is how I have made this soup for decades, except no garlic or bay leaves, it is a family favourite. Your Dad sounds like a great cook! I will add the garlic and bay leaves next time I make it to see if we like it that way too, thanks for sharing this recipe. :)

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