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 Split Pea Soup with Ham

Nothing is more comforting than a bowl of homemade soup. It can ward off the chills on a cool fall day, warm the tummy after coming indoors on a wintry day, feed a cold, and provide a lot of nutrients and vitamins. I love homemade soup and can eat it year round. I made a homemade split pea soup with ham the other day and thought that I would share the recipe with you.

Homemade Split Pea Soup with Ham

1 ham bone (with some meat on it)

6 cups water

4 smoked sausages (in this recipe I used precooked smoked bratwurst)

4 large carrots ( I used organic carrots in this soup)

2 heads of broccoli (I used organic broccoli in this recipe)

4 stalks of celery

2 yellow onions

2 cloves of garlic

3 Bay leaves

3 cups of yellow split peas

Dash of salt

Dash of pepper

4 potatoes (these were also organic, no need to peel)

Bisto Gravy Maker

Maggi Seasoning

Cornstarch

Large pot, slow cooker or pressure cooker

How to Make Homemade Split Pea Soup with Ham

Before I tell you how I made the soup, I should honestly say that measurements are approximate. I am more of a taste taster rather than a follow by book cook. Therefore, adjust the seasonings according to your own preference.

1. Take out your cooking utensil. For this homemade split pea soup I used my electric pressure cooker/slow cooker. Add about 6 cups of water. Remember that you will need to leave some room for the ingredients.

2. Peel and chop onions into slivers.

3. Peel and chop garlic cloves.

4. Wash celery stalks, trim off ends. Turn celery over and place on a cutting board, cut it cross-wise into little pieces.

5. Wash potatoes. Peel if desired. Cut into quarters. If large potatoes are used, cut the quarters into smaller pieces.

6. Wash and peel carrots. Chop into 2 inch pieces.

7. Take the ham bone out of the fridge and add it to the pot of water. Add salt and pepper, garlic cloves, chopped onion, bay leaves, and celery.

8. Add the 3 cups of yellow split peas.

9. Turn on the pressure cooker and choose high pressure. Set it to pressurize for 30 minutes. Allow the pressure to release naturally. Remove lid.

10. Take a pot spoon and stir the pot. The split peas should be almost liquified. If not, mash them with a potato masher.

11. Add in your carrots, potatoes, broccoli, and smoked sausage. I cut mine into 2 inch sections.

12. Put the lid back on the pressure cooker. Set it to high pressure. Pressurize the food for 10 minutes. Release pressure and let it come down naturally.

13. Take lid off of the pressure cooker. In a small bowl, add approximately 3 tablespoons of cornstarch. To it, add cold water. Mix into a smooth, yet watery paste.

14. Turn on the pressure cooker. This time we are going to set it to brown or med high heat. Once the liquid in the pot is at a gentle boil, add in the cornstarch/water mixture.

15. Stir the pot as it is at a slow boil. This will help to thicken the broth. Let it cook this way for approximately 10 minutes. Turn down the heat.

16. I turned my pressure cooker over to the simmer function. I let the soup simmer over low heat for another 20 minutes to thoroughly cook the vegetables.

17. Turn off heat. Take a ladle and scoop the Homemade Split Pea Soup with Ham into soup bowls. Can be eaten a la carte, with a salad, or some fresh homemade bread.

Variations- You can use this recipe as is or make your own version of it. Reduce the amount of water to 5 cups if you are just adding the dry yellow split peas and seasonings. You could also leave out the meat if you wish to do so.

Serves 6-10

Three people in my family had two bowls each and there is still enough left for tonight’s dinner. It is very nutritious and filling.

Enjoy!