Split pea soup. You either love it or hate it. I grew up hating it. My mom would make it a few times each year, and try to persuade me to try her families recipe for split pea soup. Of course, me being a young bratty child I always refused. It wasn’t until I was in college that I finally gave the soup a try and found out that I loved it. I think it is the green murky color that this hearty soup has. It’s a turn-off, and quite frankly what us food bloggers like to call “ugly food”. Its hard to photograph and convey how delicious it really does taste.
Last year, I made my first large stock pot full of split pea soup. It was ok. Both my mother and mother in-law make split pea soup and ironically both are pretty different (each using their own family recipe, both equally delicious). When I made my Brown Sugar Honey Glazed Ham in the slow cooker the other week I knew I wanted to take that bone and make a decadent pot of split pea soup. I combined ingredients that both mothers use plus put my own spin on it. You know I love veggies. So why not add lots to the pot. I also did something daring. I put a few parsnips in the slow cooker. Yep, that’s right. I’ve never even cooked or consumed parsnips. But I knew it was a root vegetable and I figured this Split Pea Soup was the perfect dish to put it in. Another spin I put on it. I used my slow cooker. Both mothers let theirs simmer on the stove top for hours on end. I don’t have that kind of time. One morning before work, I peeled and chopped up all my veggies, tossed everything in my KitchenAid Slow Cooker, and then let it go to work. I love letting my slow cooker do all the cooking for me! I got home, removed the bone, stirred the split pea soup, added the fresh herbs, and voila–dinner was done!
I even brought some over to my neighbor to try. In her thirty-some odd years on this planet she had never consumed split pea soup! She tasted the soup with hesitation and then requested more. I’ve now converted one more person to becoming a split pea lover. So if you have a ham bone from Easter Sunday dinner–don’t hesitate to throw it in your slow cooker with tons of veggies, dried green split peas, and a whole lot of water to make a thick and hearty soup (large enough to feed an army).
Katie Original Recipe for Slow Cooker Split Pea Soup
Ingredients
- 1 Ham Bone
- 2 cups Ham diced
- 1 16 oz bag of Dried Green Split Peas
- 3 carrots peeled and sliced
- 2 parsnips peeled and sliced
- 2 white potatoes peeled and cubed
- 1/2 medium onion diced
- 3 ribs celery diced
- 2 cloves garlic diced
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 tbsp season salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 6 cups water
- 1/4 fresh parsley diced
- 6 green onions thinly sliced
Instructions
- In a 6 quart slow cooker, place the ham bone, diced ham, and split peas in the slow cooker. Then add the sliced carrots, parsnips, white potatoes, onion, celery, and garlic on top. Add bay leaf, season salt, and black pepper followed by 6 cups of water. Stir until everything is incorporated. Cook on low for 8-10 hours.
- Once the soup is done, mix well, and add 3 tablespoons fresh parsley and 5 of the 6 sliced green onions, mix well. Ladle soup into bowls and top with remaining fresh parsley and green onions.
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My family loves this! Thank you!
Hillary I’m so glad they love it! 🙂 I’m making a ham tomorrow and will be using my ham bone and leftover ham to make this and freeze for when my baby arrives!
STUPID QUESTION ALERT!!!
The bag of split peas…….am I right to assume it’s a bag of DRIED peas!?
Hi Kate–yes! It’s a bag of dried peas. So sorry–I’ll add that in the recipe. Not a stupid question 😉
It’s so funny how your taste changes over time, I love split pea soup now too 🙂 this looks great!
I have such a soft spot for split pea soup! Perfect to welcome the still chilly days of Spring!
Ashley, I do now, too!
This looks so good! I just might have to develop a vegetarian version :).
Just omit the ham… I’m sure it will tastes just as good (maybe add a little more season salt/pepper)!
love this – however, I do not add ham to it. such a comforting, nutritious dish
Oh I bet it tastes just as good without ham!
I loOOoooOOOVve split pea soup! Seriously love. Even better in the slow cooker!
Thanks Stephanie!
This looks delicious! We love split pea soup and I haven’t made it in a long while. My mom made a ham for Easter and is freezing the leftovers for me. When I get them, I’m making this for sure.
Awesome Paula!
I love split pea soup, but never make it because it seems too hard. But in a slow cooker, EVERYTHING is easy!
Ashley–I was the same way! Just throw it all in the slow cooker and let it do all the work for you!
Confession: I have never made split pea soup before. GASP! Now, with this recipe there’s no excuse!
Lauren–it wasn’t until last when I finally made split pea! Go and make it!