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Classic split pea soup

Classic split pea soup

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"Bask in the comforting embrace of Classic Split Pea Soup, where every spoonful is a journey into the heartwarming tradition of home-cooked goodness."
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 20 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 35 minutes
Servings: 6
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cups dried split peas green or yellow
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 large onion chopped
  • 3 ribs celery chopped
  • 2 medium carrots peeled and chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 4 cups chicken broth low sodium or no sodium added
  • 4 cups water
  • 1 bay leaf
  • ½ teaspoon dried thyme
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 1½ pound meaty ham bone or ham shanks

Method
 

Soak the Split Peas:
  1. Rinse the split peas thoroughly and place them in a pot.
  2. Cover the peas with 2 quarts of cold water and let them soak overnight.
Sauté Vegetables:
  1. Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat.
  2. Add onion, celery, and carrots. Cook for 3 to 5 minutes until the vegetables soften and the onion becomes translucent.
  3. Stir in garlic and sauté for an additional 30 seconds until aromatic.
Add Remaining Ingredients:
  1. Pour in chicken broth and water, stirring to combine.
  2. Add the soaked split peas, bay leaf, dried thyme, and ham bone.
  3. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce to low heat.
  4. Cover and simmer for about 1½ hours.
Finish the Soup:
  1. Carefully remove the ham bone from the soup. Cut off the meat and dice it.
  2. Return the diced ham to the soup.
  3. Cook on low heat for an additional 30 minutes or until the soup has thickened.
  4. Discard the bay leaf.
  5. Serve and enjoy your split pea soup!

Notes

There's no need to pre-soak the split peas for this recipe.
If you opt for regular instead of low-sodium chicken broth, consider reducing the added salt to prevent the soup from becoming overly salty.
The serving size is calculated based on using 4 cups of water.
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