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.
Mama to 5 BLessings
Love soup. This is a great way to use up leftover ham from Easter too! We always have so much leftover, so need to make this!
Claudia Krusch
That’s great comfort food! It would be perfect for a cold day! Can’t wait to try it!
Chef G
Hope you do and ENJOY!!
Janeane Davis
I just made a ham for our family this weekend. I will take the bone and try your recipe! It is always great to get a new recipe!
Chef G
Ham bones are awesome….just what this soup needs. ENJOY!!
Liz Mays
You are so right about the flavor from the bone. There is no replacing that.
Chef G
Absolutely so true!!
Lois Alter Mark
Now, that’s real comfort food. It would be perfect for a cold, rainy day.
Chef G
Oh yes for sure!!
A Geek Daddy
We have a restaurant by our house whose signature dish is Pea Soup. People come from miles around to enjoy it. Thanks to your recipe I can save a few bucks now by trying to make it myself.
Chef G
Oh and homemade is so good…hope you give it a try.
Milena
I always make my soup stove top. Although I have never made pea soup.
Chef G
If you like pea soup give it a try.
carissa garabedian
I grew up with my grandma’s recipe, very similar to this and yes, the ham is a must! I will try this , thanks
Chef G
Oh yes cannot do it without the ham.
Ashley @Irishred02
I’ve never had pea soup before!!!! But this does look tasty!
Chef G
Pea soup is so good…hope you give it a try.
Alicia Taylor
I would make it an leave out the ham – but there is nothing like a homemade comfort food!
Chef G
You can leave out the ham….but it just wouldn’t be the same. Enjoy it which ever way you choose.
Heather lawrence
Yummy! I haven’t made a pea and ham soup in ages.
Actually I can’t even remember the last time I whiped up a batch.
Your recipe looks quite similar to my moms so I know this is going to be awesome!
Chef G
Yes homemade is awesome…and I’m sure your mom has a great recipe as well.
Christine | Mid-Life Croissant
This looks insanely delicious Gloria. Love pea soup.
Chef G
Thanks we love it too.
Rebecca Bryant
I don’t think I have ever had pea soup. So now I want to make this and try it. It sounds so yummy.
Chef G
Perfect for the left over ham bone!!
Jason Sandeman
Yes! Nothing says winter like a good split pea soup! Another version that is really nice is a split pea soup with ham hocks or trotters. They usually go on sale here in Quebec around this time, and are perfect for this.
Like you, I love doing this on the stove top. The only thing I’ll counsel is have a nice, thick bottomed pot. Nothing worse than a thick layer of burnt soup. This soup is the worst for that in a restaurant kitchen.
Chef G
Yes there is something about cooking on the stove top…perhaps because that is the way “mom” did it!!
Kelsey @ Snacking Squirrel
i loooooove split pea soup. i think it would be my favorite if not, it is my favorite soup. i love this one- done so wonderfully!
Chef G
Thanks I love pea soup too….simple and so tasty.
Autumn @Mamachallenge
I have not had pea soup in a long time. This looks so good!
Chef G
Thanks….one of our favourites for sure.