Yellow Split Pea Soup With Ham

Yellow split pea soup with ham uses a leftover ham bone to create a hearty and savory soup perfect for chilly weather! No leftover ham bone? Keep reading for tips to make this soup without leftovers.

Best Leftover Ham Bone Soup!

The holidays are perfect for making a ham, and I know I will have some extra ham bones from holiday dinners. One of my favorite things to do with the ham leftovers is to make a big pot of soup. A ham bone makes a delicious, flavorful broth. Believe it or not, I look forward to the soup using the leftover more than I enjoy the actual baked ham dinner.

My son would not agree because he really loves the ham. But because I have made 14-pound hams for dinner, no matter how much that growing teenage boy eats, I will still have the leftover ham bone with meat on it to make soup.  I had quite a bit of meat left of the ham this time to make a super rich stock.

I love split pea soup, but it's not very pretty to look at. It is not very photogenic either. So you'll just have to trust me on this.

Close your eyes and think about a creamy warm soup on a cold day with lots of smoky flavor and shreds of slow cooked ham.

I used yellow split peas simply because I find the color of the finished soup a bit prettier than with green or other split peas. But feel free to use whatever color split peas you'd like. 

Give this soup a try, and I am sure you will be pleased with the results.

Pea and Ham Soup Ingredients

• ham bone - a great use of leftovers from a holiday meal and gives the soup such a hearty, delicious flavor. Feel free to use smoked ham hocks if you don't have a ham bone. They can be found in the frozen meat section of your grocery store. You may also be able to order a meaty ham bone from your local butcher shop.
• onion, carrots, and celery - these are just some of the delicious options for vegetables that work in this soup. You could also add potatoes or peas if you like them also.
• Italian seasoning - pulls together all of the flavors and makes this soup so fragrant and delicious! If you don't have a pre-made Italian seasoning, you can use any combination of the following: basil, oregano, rosemary, parsley, thyme, garlic powder, chili flakes, sage, or dried marjoram.
• split peas - I used yellow split peas to make this soup look a bit more appealing, but really it all tastes just about the same so you can use any kind of split peas you'd like.
• salt and pepper - adjust to taste.

How To Make Yellow Split Pea Soup With Ham

1. In a large stock pot, put ham in water on medium heat. Bring to a boil, cover with a lid and simmer for an hour or more.
2. Add onion, carrots, celery and seasoning. Simmer for another hour.
3. Strain stock and reserve ham bone and vegetables.
4. Add the stock and split peas to the pot. Chop up the vegetables (they will be soft) and remove all the ham from the bone shredding it in bite size pieces. Add veggies and ham to the soup. Simmer for an hour or until peas are soft. Cook longer if creamier soup is desired. Add extra water if needed.
5. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

FAQ

What If I Don't Have A Leftover Ham Bone?

• No leftovers? No problem! You may be able to purchase a meaty ham bone from your local butcher shop. You can also substitiute ham hocks from your local grocery store. Ham hocks are often a bit salty to adjust the seasoning of your soup accordingly.

Can I make this soup ahead of time?

• Absolutely! If you have a lot of leftover ham bone, it can be a great opportunity to make a double or even triple recipe (as long as you've got a big enough pot or enough time on your hands) and then store this soup away to pull out whenever you have a craving or need a quick meal!

How should I store this soup?

• Allow it to cool, then transfer to an airtight plastic container and place in the fridge. It should be fine in the fridge for about 3 or 4 days.
• Split pea soup also freezes well, and can last three months or more frozen. When it comes time to eat it, just leave it in the fridge overnight to thaw. I like to store it in individual containers as it is great for a one person lunch.

What's the best way to reheat my soup?

• In a pinch, pour some of your soup into a microwave-safe bowl and give it a minute or so. Stir and check the temperature to see if it's heated through, then add another 30 seconds or so if it's not hot enough for you.
• You can also pour the soup into a pot and reheat over medium heat, stirring occasionally to make sure the soup is evenly heated.

Split Pea Soup Topping Suggestions

One of the best parts about soup is all of the choices for toppings!

• Top with some leftover pieces of ham to bring out that smoky, savory flavor.
• Some saltines or buttery crackers will give you some crunch and a bit of starch to pair nicely with your soup.
• Croutons are delicious on top of soup and easy to serve right out of the bag.
• Sprinkle with fresh chopped herbs like basil or parsley. It adds both flavor and color to the soup.

More Leftover Ham Recipes

• Chicken Cordon Bleu Sandwich with Ham Leftovers!
• Ham and Cheese Tortellini Recipe with Peas
• Ham and Asparagus Bread Pudding
• Stuffed Sweet Potatoes with Leftover Ham from Everyday Maven

More Soup Recipes

• Gluten Free Chicken Noodle Soup
• Pasta Fagioli Soup
• Cabbage and Beef Soup
• Wonton Soup Recipe
• Creamy Broccoli Cheddar Soup from The Chunky Chef
• Old Fashioned Beef Vegetable Soup with Barley

If you like this recipe for split pea soup with ham bone, please give it 5 stars below.

RECIPE

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4.89 from 9 votes

Yellow Split Pea Soup With Ham

This yellow split pea soup recipe uses leftover ham bone to create a hearty and savory soup that's perfect for chilly weather!

Prep Time10 minutes mins

Cook Time3 hours hrs

Total Time3 hours hrs 10 minutes mins

Course: Soup

Cuisine: American Comfort Food

Servings: 6

Calories: 280kcal

Author: Jersey Girl Cooks (Lisa Grant)

Ingredients

• 1 leftover ham bone with meat still attached
• 8 cups water
• 1 large onion peeled
• 3 large carrots peeled
• 3 stalks celery leaves cut off
• 1 TBS dried Italian seasoning
• 16 ounces dried split peas rinsed and picked through
• salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

• In a large stock pot, put ham in water on medium heat. Bring to a boil, cover with a lid and simmer for an hour or more.
• Add onion, carrots, celery and seasoning. Simmer for another hour.
• Strain stock and reserve ham bone and vegetables.
• Add the stock and split peas to the pot. Chop up the vegetables (they will be soft) and remove all the ham from the bone shredding it in bite size pieces. Add veggies and ham to the soup. Simmer for an hour or until peas are soft. Cook longer if creamier soup is desired. Add extra water if needed.
• Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Nutrition

Calories: 280kcal | Carbohydrates: 51g | Protein: 19g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 51mg | Potassium: 876mg | Fiber: 21g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 5231IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 79mg | Iron: 4mg

First Published January 2013 ; Updated November 2021

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