Split Pea and Ham Hock Soup

Published on November 7, 2025 at 4:37 PM

This healthy veggie and protein packed soup is a favourite of mine. It is a thicker version of this soup than you might be used to, which makes it hearty. A bowl of split pea soup on a fall or winter day is just the right thing.

Serves 6

Ingredients:

1/4 cup olive oil

2 carrots diced

1 large onion diced

2 ribs celery diced

2 large or 4 small cloves garlic minced

1 large smoked ham hock (or a ham bone from roasted bone-in ham)

8 cups chicken stock

2 tbsps thyme

3 bay leaves

salt and pepper to taste

2 cups split yellow peas rinsed

Directions:

1. Add oilive oil to a large dutch oven and heat over medium heat (5 out of 10)

2. Add carrots, celery and onion and saute until soft, about 8 minutes

3. Add garlic and continue sauting another 5 minutes, stirring frequently to prevent scorching

4. Place aromatics and ham hock in the dutch oven and add the broth, bring to a boil

5. Cover and reduce heat to low (2 out of 10) to simmer for 1 hour

6. Stir in split peas, pepper and salt, turn hock over in pot to simmer both sides

7. Simmer an additional 1 hour

8. Remove ham hock to a cutting board, allow to cool a bit and pull off all meat, dice meat (yields about 2 cups) dispose of fat and skin, and return to pot

9. Adjust seasoning and remove bay leaves

10. Serve hot

Notes:

This soup keeps nicely in the fridge for 5 days in an airtight container or in the freezer for up to six months.

I prefer yellow spilt peas. However, use green interchangeably if you like.

For a little extra heat, add a pinch of chili flakes at the initial simmering phase.

If you don't have a ham hock, but have a ham bone, just sub it in and add leftover ham from the ham itself.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size: 1.5 cups

Servings: 6

Amount per serving

Calories 272

Total Fat 8.5g 11% Saturated Fat 2.1g 10% Cholesterol 33mg 11% Sodium 1271mg 55% Total Carbohydrate 29g 11% Dietary Fiber 7.9g 28% Total Sugars 5.1g Protein 20.5g Calcium 75mg 6% Iron 4mg 22% Potassium 281mg 6%

The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calorie a day is used for general nutrition advice.