Split Pea Soup
This customizable recipe for classic split pea soup allows you to make it vegetarian or not with equally delicious results. Meat eaters can get that classic smoky flavor by adding bacon or ham hock, while vegetarians can reach for the smoked paprika. Half the split peas are added part way through cooking, which adds texture to each cozy, hearty spoonful.
- Total:
- Serves: 4 persons
Ingredients
- 6slices bacon or 1 (1-pound) smoked ham hock, or 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 2tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more as needed
- 1medium onion, diced (about 1 1/2 cups)
- 2medium leeks, white and pale green parts rinsed and thinly sliced (about 1 3/4 cups)
- 4garlic cloves, minced
- Kosher salt and black pepper
- 2medium carrots, scrubbed and diced (about 1 1/2 cups)
- 1pound dried split green peas
- 2fresh thyme sprigs
- 8to 12 cups chicken stock or water
- Lemon wedges, for serving (optional)
Instructions
Step 1
If using bacon: In a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat, cook the bacon until crisp, 12 to 13 minutes. Transfer the bacon to a plate lined with a paper towel. Once cool, crumble and set aside for garnish. If using ham hock: In a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat, heat the olive oil, then brown the ham hock until golden, about 6 minutes. If making the soup vegetarian: In a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat, heat the olive oil.Step 2
Add the onion, leeks and garlic and season generously with salt and pepper. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 5 to 8 minutes. (If the vegetables seem dry, add a little olive oil.) Stir in the carrots, paprika (if using), half the split peas, thyme and 8 cups stock or water. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer, partly covered, stirring occasionally, for about 45 minutes until peas are tender.Step 3
Mash the soup coarsely with a potato masher or give it a few quick blitzes with an immersion blender (watch out for the thyme sprigs). If you’d prefer a smoother soup, blitz until nearly smooth. Add the remaining 1/2 pound split peas and simmer about 1 hour, or until the peas are soft. If at any point the soup looks too thick, add more stock or water; if it looks too thin, remove the lid during the second simmer until it thickens. If using ham hocks, remove any meat from the bone, cut it into small cubes and stir into the soup. Season soup to taste with salt and pepper. Serve with crumbled bacon, if using, and lemon wedges.