4 WAYS TO MAKE SPLIT PEA SOUP

4 Ways to make Split Pea Soup. If you like soup, this post was made for you and I promise it will be in heavy heavy rotation in your house. Especially with ALL the ways you can make it!  It’s easy, oh so scrumptious, and perfect for those cold fall and winter months that are looming in the distance!

   There are a few different ways you can cook up this soup.  Each way tastes just as delicious, it just depends on what you have time for.  Although, I have to admit that the slow cooker version if my favorite.  I just love that it simmers all day long, giving all the flavors time to get nice and cozy with each other.  But you can also do it on the stove top, instant pot, and even on your smoker!

   Now, lots of people soak their split peas first.  It can help reduce the cooking time (from 1-2 hours on the stove top, down to 40 minutes) and split peas also have a compound called phytic acid which can make you gassy. It’s totally up to you. Just put them in a bowl and let them soak overnight.  Honestly, I find no need to pre-soak them.  It takes time and dirties another dish. 

  This soup can be made completely vegetarian or you can add whatever meat you want.  Yah, that’s right.  This soup is pretty splendid with all sorts of meat.  My favorite is getting a ham hock (shank) and throwing it in the pot.  But you can do bacon, shredded chicken, steak, or even leftover thanksgiving turkey or sliced ham! 

  I love making a big ol’ pot full of this soup so that I can save it for a rainy day, or when I have nothing to cook for dinner.  This is also great for little babies eating their first foods.  Place a some soup into an ice cube tray and freeze.  Pop out when needed.  Most ice cube trays are 1 oz.  Perfect for your growing baby! 

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SPLIT PEA SOUP

Serving Size: 6-8

Ingredients

• 4 cups split peas
• 3 large carrots, diced
• 3 celery stalks, diced
• 1/2 red onion, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 48 oz chicken or vegetable broth
• 1 tbl fresh sage, chopped
• 1 1/2 tsp fresh thyme
• 1 tsp sea salt
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 2 bay leaves
• OPTIONAL: Ham hock (shank), shredded cheese

Instructions

INSTANT POT:
1. Turn you pressure cooker onto saute mode. Pour in 2 tbl of extra virgin olive oil and add in the diced onion, carrot, and celery. Stir to combine and let cook for 2 minutes.
2. Next add in the garlic and cook until very fragrant. About 1 minute.
3. Add in the ham hock if using, and the 4 cups of split peas.
4. Next pour the broth over the split peas.
5. Add in all the seasonings, turn off saute mode and put the lid on it.
6. Press the "bean/chili" button and set time to 35 minutes.
7. After 35 minutes, manually release the pressure.
8. Open up the lid, remove the ham hock and cut up. Add the ham pieces back to the soup. Add a little more water to adjust thickness of the soup.
Slow Cooker:
9. Place all ingredients into the slow cooker and cook on low for 6-8 hours.
10. Remove ham hock, cut it up, and place ham back into pot. Again, adjust thickness of soup by adding more water or broth.
Stove Top:
11. Follow instructions for instant pot, except wait for the broth to come to a boil. Once it comes to a boil, stir, cover with a lid and reduce heat to low. Cook on low for 1 1/2 hours, stirring half way through until split peas are no longer hard.
Smoker:
12. Turn smoker onto 375 degrees F.
13. Place all ingredients into a dutch oven, no lid, and let smoke for 2 hours, stirring every 45 minutes. Add broth or water if necessary

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What do you like putting in your split pea soup?