This is a fabulous “throw it all in the slow cooker” Pea and Ham soup. There’s no need to cook the onion separately – it “sautés” itself in the fat from the ham hock that rises to the surface. Thick, hearty soup broth infused with incredible flavour from the ham bone!
A worthy ending for your leftover Christmas ham bone, or use store bought. Make this in your slow cooker or on the stove!
Pea and Ham Soup
I’ve always said that Lentil Soup is the least sexy looking soup in the world.
But in hindsight, I think Pea and Ham Soup should take that title.
I mean, think about it. A sparkling white Corn Chowder is pretty. A Thai Tom Yum Soup is colourful and vibrant. Creamy Carrot Soup is a cheerful bright orange colour. And a fiery red Laksa looks as bold as it tastes.
But Pea Soup? It’s brown more than green. Kahki at best.
So no, it’s not glamorous.
But this ugly duckling is seriously delicious. One bite, and you won’t be able to stop!!
What goes in Pea and Ham Soup
Here’s what you need for pea and ham soup. I’ve used a store bought ham hock here because I used up all the ham bones I managed to score from friends and even mere acquaintances. Yep, when it comes to rounding up ham bones, I’m shameless!!
Make sure you use a ham bone with plenty of meat because more meat means more flavour imparted into the soup – and more shredded ham!
Green split peas – these are just dried peas that are halved (split!) which means they cook faster and there’s no need to soak overnight (such as with most types of beans for things like Southern Baked Beans). They taste quite neutral, slightly earthy, and it absorbs the flavour of whatever they’re cooked in – in this case, ham! When cooked for a long time like we do here (in order for the ham meat to be ultra tender), they become creamy and thicken the soup;
WATER, no broth – the ham bone releases so much flavour that all we need is water for the soup broth. How good is that??!!
I love how economical pea soup is when made using leftover ham bone because the broth just needs water – no stock!
The Ham Hock – ham bone
If you’re wondering what a ham hock is, it’s a ham bone. And it is literally the bone inside a leg of ham, left after carving off all the ham (ie the cold cuts sold at delis). So it is already cooked – well, smoked.
If you buy one, you’ll find it looks a lot neater than a scrappy leftover leftover ham bone from a homemade Glazed Ham. The store bought ones are cut neatly then from the looks of it, they are re-smoked to seal the surface of the pink meat part.
Where to buy ham hocks
Store bought ham hock is sometimes sold over the counter and delis, otherwise it’s vac packed and sold with ham and similar items in the refrigerator section.
Make sure it’s meaty!
While store bought are intentionally nice and meaty (to flavour the soup and for plenty of shredded ham), leftover ham bones have been known to be picked clean by Ham Monsters. So if your ham bone isn’t meaty enough, just add a hunk of ham into the soup as well – just to ensure you get enough flavour into the broth.
Do the same if your store bought ham hock weighs less than 1 kg / 2lb. 🙂
Alternative: give the broth a flavour boost with a dash of stock/bouillon powder.
Just place everything into the slow cooker then turn it on
No need to sauté onion separately beforehand. In this recipe, the onion will rise to the surface and “sauté” in the ham fat. I’ve tried it sautéing onion first, then using my method and there is no difference in flavour.
The peas will be so soft they become creamy. So blitzing is optional. What I like to do is partially puree the soup using a handheld blender stick. This way you get the best of both worlds – a smooth, creamy soup broth with soft bits of pea and veg bits!
How long to cook Pea and Ham Soup
Make sure you slow cook Pea and Ham Soup in the slow cooker for at least 8 hours, but 10 hours is even better (on low). The ham meat should literally fall off the bone and be shredded with a touch.
Easily shreddable ham is an indicator that it’s been cooked long enough to release a ton of flavour into the broth!
Are split peas good for you?
They are! They’re high in fibre and protein, can help reduce cholesterol and are low in fat. But split peas are a higher carbohydrate vegetable so watch your intake if you’re on a low carb diet.
What to serve with Pea and Ham Soup
A hunk of warm crusty bread (preferably slathered in butter) is literally made for dunking into this thick soup.
In fact, forget spoons. Imagine eating the whole thing using bread as your feeding tool of choice?? 🙌🏻 For homemade, try this quick no yeast Irish Soda Bread or yeast free Sandwich bread. If you’ve got the time, make this crusty Artisan Bread – pretty sure it’s now officially the world’s easiest yeast bread! (It’s no knead, very foolproof).
OR – if you want to go all out, upgrade to Garlic Bread or CHEESY Garlic Bread!
Things to dunk into soup
If you’d like to add a side salad, try it with a Cucumber Salad for lovely contrasting crisp freshness, or for something different (and totally fabulous), a French Carrot Salad with Honey Dijon Dressing! – Nagi x
PS Some recipes dress up Pea and Ham soup by adding spinach or frozen peas at the end to make the soup colour greener. I choose to celebrate the unattractiveness and focus on flavour, flavour, flavour!
Watch how to make it
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Pea and Ham Soup (slow cooker or stove)
Ingredients
- 500g / 1lb dried split peas (Note 1)
- 1.2-1.5kg / 2.4-3lb ham hock (aka ham bone), bacon hock or MEATY leftover ham bone (Note 2)
- 1/4 tsp salt (start with less, adjust later)
- 3/4 tsp black pepper
- 2 garlic cloves , minced
- 2 bay leaves , dried or fresh
- 1 onion , finely chopped
- 1 carrot , peeled and finely chopped
- 2 celery sticks , finely chopped
- 8 cups (2 litres/qts) water
Garnishes / serving:
- Parsley , finely chopped
- Crusty bread for dunking!
Instructions
- Place peas in slow cooker, push ham in. Scatter all ingredients around the ham bone, then pour over water.
- Slow cook 8 to 10 hours on LOW or 6 hours on HIGH. (Or 2.5 hours on low on stove, 1 h – 1 hr 20 min pressure cooker/Instant Pot on HIGH)
- Remove ham bone, shred ham meat. Discard bone and fatty skin.
- Remove bay leaves. Use a stick blender to blitz 2 or 3 times – thickens soup but doesn’t make it completely smooth (my preference, you can blend completely if you want).
- Return ham into slow cooker, stir. Taste and add more salt if needed (soup gets lots of salt from ham).
- Serve garnished with parsley. Serve with crusty bread for dunking – make a quick Irish Soda Bread, Garlic Bread or upgrade to Cheesy Garlic Bread!
Recipe Notes:
Nutrition Information:
More ways with leftover Ham Bone!
Here are other recipes I’ve shared made using ham hocks. They make an amazing way to flavour broth!
And more chunky, hearty soups
Life of Dozer
This is what he does on cleaning days – he gets sick of trailing me up and down the stairs as I whizz back and forth between floors with brooms and mops and vacuum cleaners so he eventually just plonks himself down halfway on the landing.
Don’t you love how relaxed he looks while I’m hot, sweaty and exhausted from manic cleaning??🙄
Hi Nagi, been wanting to make this soup for so long but I can´t find ham hock anywhere, do you think I could make this with a 1kg boneless gammon, I know it won´t taste the same but was just wondering if it would still be worth making? Thank you x
Most butcher’s sell ham shank/hock,
Hi Sandra, thank you for the reply. Are you in the UK though? So many butchers have closed down here, but I´m on a mission 🙂
Hi Rakel, I have been having the very same issue in the uk..been looking for a smoked ham hock for about 5 months and tried everywhere. Found one today in Morrisons at the deli counter. The lady said they have them quite often. Hope this helps
Hi Rakel…I haven’t tested it with gammon but as long as the gammon is well flavoured it should work…it just won’t contain as much gelatin or be as thick without the hock bone. Be sure to add any salt only at the end as gammon is cured like ham so will add a lot of salt to the dish. Good luck! N x
Fantastic recipe. Só easy and delicious.
First time making pea and ham in slow cooker. Best recipe and so much less mess than cooking in a pot on stove. Loved that everything just goes in, turn on and walk away. My tip for others would be to make sure the split peas go in first as your recipe says. I didn’t read that until after I put them in top.
I absolutely love this recipe, cold wet day in Melbourne today so am making this again, sometimes I add smoked bacon bones with the ham hocks, yum this has been my go to recipe during lockdown.
Made this so many times! So easy to make and super tasty
Love, love this soup! All time favourite.
Amazing … literally threw everything in and left for 3 hours or so
Didn’t need to blend at the end as everything had cooked down
Delicious!
If I wanted to add a potato to this, at what point would you suggest adding it so it doesn’t just disintegrate into the soup? Thanks!
You nailed another one Nagi. This is the third cook up during winter. Thankyou. Even my “still at home”” 25yo son liked it. Praise from Caesar!
Hi Nagi! I loooove all of your recipes. I have a heap of frozen peas I would like to use up .. can I sub the split peas for these? Thankyou x
Hi Nagi!
Long time lover of your recipes. Tried this one in the slow cooker today and it was very salty. And recommendations to balance it?
Hi Keira, oh no!! Sorry you found it too salty, it would have been the hock you used as there’s only an added 1/4 tsp salt in the soup. I would add a little more water to balance if you can. N x
Hello, excited to try this. Could I skip the blending part? As hubby & I like the veggies whole in our soup?
Yes 100% Lisa!! N x
This looks delicious! I’ve just popped it all in my slow cooker. But I didn’t realise it needed so much water! I could only fit 4 cups in with everything else. Will it still work? Or should I transfer to the stove and add the extra water?
Hi Telyse, you’re going to need the extra water so I would transfer it to another vessel that will hold the whole capacity. N x
Thank you! I ended up going out to buy a bigger slow cooker! And then added the extra water. It ended up a little salty but otherwise delicious. Will definitely be making again.
I’ve just made this soup, it’s delicious! I used yellow split peas and only about 300g with 6 cups of water to fit my slow cooker. So easy, will definitely be making again.
Hi Nagi, I have just made this soup and it is cooking, smells so yummy!! Can’t wait for it to be ready, thanks for the recipe, so easy to do.
I hope you love it Raelene!! N x
OMG this was so amazing. Sensational flavours and so easy to make. Will definitely be making this again and again. Thank you.
You’re so welcome Kim!! N x
I have been making pea and ham soup for a while using my ninety yo mother-in-law with European heritage. Almost exactly the same, but she uses leek instead of onion.
A good Aussie variation, is a “Pie Floater”. Popular in SA, but it’s P&H soup with a pie put on top.
Major mistake….I pressed 5 stars but my comment only ended up with 4😱
I added a few potato chunks and a sliced wedge of cabbage. I also substituted yellow split peas and it was amazing, especially the second day
This pea and ham soup is the best our family has ever had, even the old boy(father in law) loved it, asked for more. It was easy to prepare and taste delicious 😋
OMG!!! this is delicious… I cant believe how easy it was… perfect!!!
I’m so glad you loved it Erin!! N x