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.
Kacie Morgan
My dad used to make a soup a bit like this with ham hock, it was absolutely delicious!
Homemade & Yummy
This version is with a ham hock…so good.
Byron Thomas
Gloria, you are so right about this recipe in so many ways. I freaking love pea soup. My mom used to make it at least twice a month in the winter months when we were growing up in Newfoundland. I never did get to make a meat/ham version though. By the time I started to develop my cooking skills, I was already in a relationship with a vegetarian, so my version has no meat at all. You’re so right about pea soup not being pretty. LOL. But, my God, it’s delicious! I truly enjoyed reading this post; sounds like you have some very fond memories.
Homemade & Yummy
My son-in-law has made a vegetarian version. Not that he is a vegetarian but does not eat pork. I honestly do not know what is wrong with him. My grandson asks for RIBS all the time…and gramma delivers!!
Kelly Anthony
Simply delicious. I love that this soup doesn’t require a lot of ingredients or time and is perfect for busy weeknights.
Homemade & Yummy
Simple recipes are often the best. This is one of them. ENJOY!
Lois Christensen
My mom made pea soup all the time while we were growing up. Your recipe looks so yummy! Your recipe is bringing back many happy memories of coming home from school to a big pot of soup simmering on the stove for our dinner.
Homemade & Yummy
YES…those food memories are the best right??
Danielle Wolter
there is nothing quite so comforting as pea soup. it is just so good and so easy to make. I use green split peas in mine, but def want to try this version with the yellow!
Homemade & Yummy
HAHAH…see I have never had it with green. I am positive it would be equally as delicious.
Stine Mari
This pea soup is so thick it’s almost a stew. So hearty and filling, I love it. In Norway we serve a thinner (but very similar) pea soup for dinner and then pancakes with blueberry jam after. Brings out all the childhood memories!
Homemade & Yummy
You can never go wrong with any kind of homemade pea soup. So delicious.
Denise
This is definitely stick to your ribs kind of soup. I have never seen yellow split peas but I like them! I can’t wait to give this a try because my mom used to make it and I totally forgot how much I like it.
Homemade & Yummy
Yes….mom’s knew what they were doing in the kitchen that is for sure.
Sophia
I love split pea soup! Thank you so much for this recipe. It’s perfect for the chilly weather. Yum!
Homemade & Yummy
Hope you give this soup a try. You won’t be disappointed.
Toni
I loved how comforting this is! Perfect for weeknights!
Homemade & Yummy
Yes, this is comfort food at its best.
Diana
My Dad loved ham soup, I remember him eating it often when I was growing up. A comforting hearty meal in the Fall or Winter! – Debbie, VA
Homemade & Yummy
We enjoy this when we can…especially with a holiday ham bone.
Lesli Schwartz
This pea soup looks so delicious! Wish others in my family would eat pea soup, so I’m the lone wolf here. But they are truly missing out!
Homemade & Yummy
Well, you are lucky, a whole pot to yourself.
Valentina
I love recipes related to family food memories. So warming. This soup sounds so comforting and delicious!
Homemade & Yummy
This does bring back memories of childhood and mom’s cooking. Miss her!!
Lisa Bryan
My mom never threw the ham bone away either. Haha! It sounds like a delicious and classic pea soup!
Homemade & Yummy
OMG, that would be a huge kitchen disaster…that bone is gold!!
Jolina
This is giving me all the feels too! I love food that triggers happy memories. And I do love soup. Perfect for this arctic chill we’ve been under for what seems like foreverrrrr.
Homemade & Yummy
OMG, I know what you are talking about. This winter is the pits!! Early spring NOT!! Stupid groundhog!!
Bhawana
This soup is such a comforting and full meal in itself. Step by step preparation makes easy to know the process to make this yummy soup… perfect for this chilli weather.
Homemade & Yummy
This is the full meal deal in a bowl. Hope you give it a try.