Mom’s homemade pea soup with ham is a family favourite. She never threw the ham bone away. This split pea soup from scratch brings a whole new meaning to leftovers.
Thick, hearty and so darn delicious. It may not be the prettiest thing to look at, but your tastebuds will be singing with joy.
Traditional Canadian pea soup is made with yellow split peas, carrots and ham. A hearty and comforting homemade soup perfect for cold days.
The smell of certain foods seems to trigger the memories of when you lived at home and mom did the cooking. Coming home from school to the smell of pea soup cooking for dinner was so comforting, especially on cold winter days.
This Canadian pea soup recipe is all you need for a complete meal. So thick and hearty, one bowl of this and your belly will be full and happy. It is an economical way to feed a family. While this cooks, whip up some quick and easy Irish Soda Bread to go with it. The best kind of comfort food is simple to prepare.
Homemade soup is the best, and honestly so easy to make. You can make it on the stove, in a slow cooker or even serve a nice cold soup on a hot summer day.
Traditional Ham And Pea Soup Ingredients
Basic, simple ingredients to make the best pea soup recipe ever.
- Ham bone (or ham hock)
- Split peas
- Water
- Carrots
- Onions
- Bay leaves
- Salt and pepper
Homemade Canadian Split Pea Soup With Ham
The hardest part about this easy split pea soup recipe is waiting for it to cook. I like to just place this on the stove and let it simmer while I do other things. You really don’t have to babysit it once it starts to simmer. Give it a stir now and again, and that is about it.
- Saute the carrots and onions.
- Add the rinsed peas along with the ham bone, water, and seasonings.
- Let simmer till done.
- Shred the meat off the ham bone (or ham hock), and return to the pot.
- Serve.
Suggestions / Recipe Tips
French Canadian pea soup is a true classic and is always made with yellow split peas, and that is the only way I have ever had it.
There really is not much difference between the taste of dried green peas over dried yellow peas. Yellow split peas are a little milder, and green split peas are a little sweeter.
For this pea soup recipe, I used a fresh ham hock. You can also get smoked ham hocks. Of course, the leftover ham bone from a holiday dinner is fantastic, and just the way mom made it.
We love thick pea soup in our house. As the soup sits (and especially when it is stored in the fridge), it will thicken even more. When you go to reheat the soup, and would like a thinner consistency, just add a little water. However the best pea soup is so thick, you could almost class it as a stew.
Childhood food memories are so wonderful. Mom and baba made some awesome meals. I also have fond memories of her Ukrainian Kobasa Kapusta on the holiday dinner table too.
Canadian Pea Soup With Ham
Ingredients
- 1 ham bone (or ham hock)
- 24 ounces yellow split peas (rinsed)
- 12 cups water
- 6 ounces carrots (diced)
- 2 ounces onion (diced)
- 2 bay leaves
- salt & pepper (to taste)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil (for sautéing)
Instructions
- Place the peas in a sieve, rinse with water and set aside.
- In a large stockpot, heat the olive oil.
- Saute the onions and carrots over medium heat until till soft (about 10 minutes). Season with salt and pepper, and mix.
- To the pot add the rinsed peas, ham bone (or ham hock), bay leaves and water.
- Stir to combine. Cover and bring to a boil.
- Reduce heat to a nice simmer, and let the soup cook until the peas are VERY soft. This can take about 2 hours or so.
- **NOTE** During the initial cooking, a FOAM will appear on the water. I usually scoop it off, but you can skip this if you like.
- Once the soup is cooked to your liking, remove the ham bone from the soup and place in a dish.
- ***NOTE*** At this point, if you would like the soup to thicken more, increase the heat slightly, and cook uncovered for about an hour. This will allow some liquid to reduce.
- During this time, pull the meat off the bone and shred. Return to pot. The size of the bone will determine the amount of meat you will be able to get.
Kari Heron
Ham hock is a great broth base for any soup. I love smoked ham hock because of the extra layer of flavour. This split pea soup takes me back to my childhood in Jamaica. Thanks for sharing!
Homemade & Yummy
You are welcome. A smoked hock would make amazing soup for sure.
Natalie
I was just thinking the other day about making the pea soup for dinner. But I’m so bored with my old recipe I always make. I’m glad I ran into your recipe. It sounds just perfect, flavorful and delicious. It’s already saved 🙂
Homemade & Yummy
This is a keeper…and has been in the family for years. Hope your family enjoys this as much as we do.
Julie
Thanks for explaining the difference between the green and yellow split peas — I was really confused by the photos because I only think of split pea soup as green. I had no idea there were different colors of split peas!
Homemade & Yummy
This is so funny. I have NEVER had pea soup with green peas. I just might have to see how that turns out.
Jo
I love split peas and we use it in so many ways. I need to try making soup out of it, it looks so filling and delicious! A perfect winter meal. Love the addition of ham here.
Homemade & Yummy
Great use for that holiday ham bone. Sometimes I will make it with smoked pork chops when too.
Lauren
A great back pocket recipe to have with Easter around the corner. Put that ham bone to good use! I enjoyed reading the detail about the different peas, I wouldn’t have known!
Homemade & Yummy
YES…a great place to use that holiday ham bone for sure. ENJOY!!
Charity
Seriously, someone would throw a ham bone out?! It’s so good in soup. This one looks yummy Gloria!
Homemade & Yummy
Well, there are those people. I know they would change their minds once they tasted this soup.
Jessica Knott
My great grandma used to make a killer pea soup recipe but I was too young to really be into adult cooking when she passed away. Since then, I’ve had an amazing pea soup at a restaurant in New Orleans over the Thanksgiving holiday that made me want to try recreating hers. This recipe is easy to follow and uses just a few ingredients — something I know hers followed as well. This will be wonderful to try before Easter and to possibly serve during that time!
Homemade & Yummy
ENJOY….the simple recipes are always a hit. Our grandmas certainly knew what they were doing in the kitchen.
Amy
This looks so great … especially right now, in the final few months of a long Ohio winter! Nothing like some good old-fashioned comfort food! 🙂 Thanks for sharing!
Homemade & Yummy
I am so looking forward to winter GOING AWAY. This is a great soup…and works on chilly rainy days too. Lots of those in the Spring and Fall.
Kelly Anthony
Looks so perfect hearty for all this cold weather! Love that it is made completely from scratch and with the ham bone! YUM!
Homemade & Yummy
Soup from scratch is the BEST. We love this one!!
Anne Lawton
This is a hearty bowl of soup that looks like its filling and full of comfort!
Homemade & Yummy
YES on all accounts. All you need is the soup (and maybe some nice crusty bread too).
Carrie
I am a sucker for ham and pea soup – its such a great winter warmer! I look forward to trying your Mom’s recipe – the ones that have been passed down are always the best!
Homemade & Yummy
I agree. Some recipes are timeless for sure.
Jenni LeBaron
I love split pea soup and this recipe sounds so delicious. I especially love that you can set this to simmer with the ham bone and then not have to worry about babysitting this soup.
Homemade & Yummy
It is one of those recipes that basically takes care of itself. Hope you give it a try.
Toni
I love it! Looks really comforting!
Homemade & Yummy
Thanks, hope you give it a try.
Lathiya
The pea soup with ham looks so comforting..just recovered from cold and I’m in need of this. Maybe I can try without ham..
Homemade & Yummy
You can certainly make it without ham….but I have never tried to. The classic recipe is gold!!