Ham and Split Pea Soup
Ham and Split Pea Soup combines the flavors of sweet salty ham, sweet peas and spices to make a hearty, healthy bowl of soup.
Servings: 6 servings
Equipment
- 1 slow-cooker 4 quart size or larger
Ingredients
- 1 pound of ham with the bone
- 4 cups chicken or vegetable stock
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasonings
- 1 1/2 cups dried split peas rinsed
- 1 cup chopped carrots
- 1/2 cup chopped celery
- 1 medium onion chopped
- 2 tablespoons canola oil
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Add the ham, chicken stock, seasonings and split peas to a 4-quart slow cooker set on low.
- In a medium skillet, saute the chopped carrots, celery and onions in 2 tablespoons of canola oil. Cook until soft, about 5-6 minutes. Add the garlic to the skillet and cook for one more minute. Add the vegetables to the slow-cooker.
- Stir, cover and cook on low for 6 hours.
- Remove the ham bone and the bay leaves before serving. Salt and pepper the soup to taste. Recipe makes 6 servings.
Notes
Whenever I purchase a ham for a family meal, I prefer to buy it with a bone. This way, I'm sure to have the bone and some extra ham to put in the freezer for another meal. For this recipe, I used a ham bone with a pound of meat still attached to the bone. I defrosted it in the microwave and added it directly to the slow-cooker. The ham bone gives this soup such great flavor. And if you buy a ham that has been smoked, that wonderful smoky flavor gets added to your soup as well.