Creamy and savory soup that’s just perfect year round. This easy to follow, stove top Easy Peasy Split Pea Soup recipe is easy to make but oh, so hearty. This soup is wonderful with crispy croutons, but in my world it’s usually paired with grilled ham and cheese on rye. The duo makes for a luscious lunch or a soup-er supper.

This soup is a great use for leftover ham. Next time you purchase a ham, pick up a bag of dried split peas so make this soup.

 

EASY PEASY SPLIT PEA SOUP

What You’ll Need: 

 

• 2 tablespoons butter
• 8 ounces bacon, ham or smoked sausage like Kielbasa – chopped
• 1 large onion – chopped
• 1 cup celery – chopped
• 1 cup peeled carrot – chopped
• 2 teaspoons dried marjoram or thyme
• 1 pound (2 1/4 cups) green split peas – washed and picked through
• 7 cups water
• 1 teaspoon salt

 

 

Here’s How:

 

In a heavy soup pot or Dutch oven over medium heat, melt butter then add bacon, ham and/or sausage. Yes, butter and bacon – you got a problem with that?

When the fat has rendered from your choice of meat candy, you can drain off all but 3 tablespoons of the fat (you don’t have to if you don’t want to, I won’t tell). Then add the onion, celery and carrots. Sauté until vegetables begin to soften, about 8 minutes. Add marjoram or thyme and stir 1 minute.

 

 

Add dried peas and give it a stir. Next, add water and bring to good boil, then reduce the heat to medium-low.

 

Partially cover pot; simmer soup, stirring often, about one hour or until vegetables are tender and peas are falling apart.

 

 

If you like your soup a little less chunky, take a potato masher and go at it until it’s to consistency you like.

 

Just don’t put it in the blender because pureed bacon isn’t very Diva…

 

 

If you like your split pea soup really creamy and smooth; then remove the bacon, ham or sausage after the fat has rendered.  Then set it aside and keep warm. Follow the rest of the recipe as directed. When the soup is done, allow to cool then puree it in small batches in a blender to the consistency you like. Return it to the pot to reheat. Add the bacon or sausage to the finished soup or use it to top the soup as a delectable garnish. Yes.

 

This soup is begging for The “I’ll Never Buy Croutons in a Box Again” Croutons – they’re friends, really, you can’t make one without the other.

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