Split Pea Soup with Ham

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 large yellow onion, diced
• 3 carrots, diced
• 3 celery stalks, diced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 pound dried green split peas, rinsed and picked over
• 1 leftover ham bone (or 2 smoked ham hocks)
• 8 cups chicken broth
• 2 bay leaves
• 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 2 cups diced cooked ham
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste
• 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish

Instructions

1. Melt the butter in a large Dutch oven or soup pot over medium heat, then add the onion, carrots, and celery; cook for 7 to 8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until softened.
2. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds, stirring constantly, until fragrant.
3. Add the rinsed split peas, ham bone, chicken broth, bay leaves, and dried thyme; stir to combine.
4. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce heat to low, cover partially, and simmer for 1 to 1.25 hours, stirring occasionally, until the split peas have broken down into a thick, mostly smooth puree.
5. Check the pot every 20 minutes or so and skim off any foam that rises to the top, and add a splash of water or broth if the soup gets too thick.
6. Once the peas are fully softened and the soup has a porridge-like consistency, remove the ham bone from the pot and set aside on a plate to cool slightly.
7. Once cool enough to handle, pull any meat off the ham bone, shred or chop it into bite-sized pieces, and discard the bone, fat, and bay leaves.
8. Return the picked ham meat to the pot along with the additional diced cooked ham, and simmer for 5 to 10 minutes until heated through.
9. Season the soup with black pepper and the kosher salt, tasting first since ham bones and diced ham both add significant saltiness.
10. For a smoother soup, use an immersion blender to puree part of the soup directly in the pot, leaving some texture; or leave it entirely rustic and chunky if you prefer.
11. Ladle into bowls and garnish with chopped fresh parsley.

Nutrition

Calories	340
Protein	24 g
Fat	8 g
Carbs	44 g
Fiber	16 g
Sodium	890 mg

Estimated per serving