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Creamy Cozy Split Pea Soup

creamy cozy split pea soup - featured image
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A comforting, creamy split pea soup with smoky ham and tender vegetables, perfect for cozy dinners and easy to make with pantry staples.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 1/2 cups dried green split peas (rinsed and picked through for stones)
  • 8 ounces ham hock or smoked ham bone
  • 1 large yellow onion, diced
  • 2 medium carrots, peeled and chopped
  • 2 celery stalks, chopped
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 6 cups low-sodium chicken broth (or vegetable broth for vegetarian)
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil or butter
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream or coconut cream (optional)

Instructions

  1. Rinse and sort the split peas under cold running water, removing any debris or stones (about 5 minutes).
  2. Heat olive oil or butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add diced onion, chopped carrots, and celery. Cook for 6-8 minutes until softened, stirring occasionally. Add minced garlic in the last minute and stir.
  3. Add the ham hock and rinsed split peas to the pot and stir to combine.
  4. Pour in chicken broth, add bay leaves and thyme, and bring to a boil over medium-high heat.
  5. Reduce heat to low, partially cover, and simmer gently for 50-60 minutes, stirring occasionally until peas are soft and soup thickens.
  6. Remove the ham hock and bay leaves from the pot.
  7. Shred the ham meat off the bone into bite-sized pieces, discarding fat and bone.
  8. Use an immersion blender to puree the soup until creamy but still slightly chunky, or blend in batches with a regular blender.
  9. Return shredded ham to the pot, season with salt and pepper to taste.
  10. Stir in heavy cream or coconut cream if using, and heat through for 2-3 minutes without boiling.

Notes

For a vegetarian version, omit the ham hock and add smoked paprika or liquid smoke with vegetable broth. Use coconut cream to keep it dairy-free. Stir gently during simmering to prevent sticking. Blend partially for texture or fully for smoothness. Add cream at the end without boiling.

Nutrition

Keywords: split pea soup, creamy soup, comfort food, ham hock soup, easy soup recipe, cozy dinner, homemade soup

Find it online: https://hungermind.com/creamy-cozy-split-pea-soup-recipe-easy-homemade-comfort-food-guide/