Description
Hearty pea and ham soup delivers comfort straight from traditional British kitchens, blending smoky ham hock with creamy green peas. Warm spoonfuls promise rich flavor and nostalgic comfort that connects you to classic home cooking.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 200 grams (7 ounces) yellow or green split peas
- 1 ham bone
- 1 liter (4.2 cups) water
Vegetables:
- 1 carrot, chopped
- 1 onion, chopped
- 1/2 leek, chopped
Seasonings and Garnish:
- 2 bay leaves
- Salt
- Pepper
- Fresh parsley (for serving)
Instructions
- Thoroughly wash dried peas under cold running water to remove any debris or impurities.
- Transfer peas to a large pot, cover with water, and bring to a rolling boil over high heat, carefully skimming off any white foam that accumulates on the surface.
- Introduce diced vegetables, ham bone, and aromatic bay leaves to the pot, reducing heat to create a gentle simmer for approximately 40 minutes until peas become tender and flavors meld together.
- Carefully extract bay leaves and ham bone from the soup, discarding the leaves and setting aside the bone.
- Use an immersion blender or standard blender to puree the soup, adjusting the consistency to your preferred smoothness – from slightly chunky to completely smooth.
- Return the pureed soup to low heat, warming gently and seasoning with salt and pepper to enhance the robust flavors.
- Shred or chop reserved ham meat from the bone and sprinkle over the soup’s surface.
- Garnish with freshly chopped parsley for a vibrant touch of color and added freshness.
- Serve steaming hot in deep bowls, accompanied by crusty bread for a comforting meal.
Notes
- Soak dried peas overnight to reduce cooking time and improve digestibility.
- Choose a meaty ham bone for richer, deeper flavor profile in the soup.
- Use an immersion blender for smoother texture control without transferring hot liquid.
- Consider removing ham from bone before blending for more consistent meat distribution throughout soup.
- Adjust liquid consistency by adding water or stock if soup becomes too thick during simmering.
- Swap ham bone with smoked turkey leg for a lighter protein option or create a vegetarian version using vegetable stock and omitting meat.
- Fresh herbs like thyme or rosemary can enhance the overall taste complexity of the soup.
- Store leftovers in airtight container for up to 4 days, flavors will continue to develop and intensify.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: British
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 153 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 450 mg
- Fat: 2 g
- Saturated Fat: 0.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 1 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 27 g
- Fiber: 9 g
- Protein: 14 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg