Slow Cooker Split Pea Soup

Slow Cooker Split Pea Soup is the perfect comfort food when the weather is cold, and all you want to do is stay cozy indoors. Made with dried split peas, onion, leeks, carrot, celery, and fresh herbs, it gets its flavor from delicious leftover hambone. It requires hardly any effort, whether you use a slow cooker or decide to cook it on the stove. I’ve included instructions for both.

This post, titled “Slow Cooker Split Pea Soup + a Letter to my Daughter,” first appeared on January 8, 2014. It’s since been updated with new photos and more detailed instructions. I hope you enjoy this favorite from my kitchen!

A Letter to My Daughter

Dear C,

You turned eleven today. Eleven. Old enough to have a phone, but young enough to play with your dolls. Old enough to know right from wrong, by young enough not to know what to do. You’re old enough for me to give you a longer leash but young enough for me to worry.

Old enough that teenage years are just around the corner, but young enough that I can keep you close a little longer.

It struck me this weekend that I am faced with an end. Pretty soon, you will no longer be my little girl, who still loves her dolls and imagination, who cuddles with her stuffed animal at night. One day, you won’t need me to tuck you in at night. You may not even tell me what is troubling your heart (but I hope you remember you always can).

It struck me this weekend that I want to preserve you in a box, to shield you from all hurt…to keep you innocent. It struck me this weekend that I must be there for you more than ever.

Eleven is an age that haunts me. Your Tita was eleven when our mom — your Lola — passed away. It makes me remember those years she had to grow up alone and how I could never be a substitute for that comforting hug. I want to be with you as you grow older and guide you for as long as possible. To help you become the strong woman you are meant to be.

For now, you are still my little girl. And everything I say or do matters. I can’t protect you; I can’t hold you back. But I hope you know I am always here for you if one day not on this earth, then in your heart.

Love,
Mommy

I devoted last weekend to my daughter and resolved myself to her. A renewal of vows, if you will. It was as if I had stopped at a long stoplight and had a moment to consider my destination. Sometimes, you just get stuck on the cruise control, moving forward but forgetting to pay attention along the way.

Slow Cooker Split Pea Soup

We had a beautiful ham this weekend, and I was eager to make this Slow Cooker Split Pea Soup soon after. I wasn’t sure how she would like it; up to now, my daughter has not favored peas in any way, shape, or form. You can imagine the look of shock when she realized the key ingredient.

“Is there potato in this soup? The texture?” she questioned. “Good guess, but it’s not potatoes. Look at the color, what do you think it is?” I prodded. When she still wasn’t sure, I revealed the answer.

“PEAS?!? I like peas??? I’m eating a…vegetable!?”

Yes, imagine that. Thanks to slow cooker split pea soup, you like another vegetable.

And you even brought it for lunch at school the following day.

More Nourishing Soup Recipes

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Slow Cooker Split Pea Soup

Split Pea Soup is the perfect comfort food when the weather is cold, and all you want to do is stay cozy indoors. Made with dried split peas, onion, leeks, carrot, celery, and fresh herbs, it gets its flavor from delicious leftover hambone. It requires hardly any effort, whether you use a slow cooker or decide to cook it on the stove.

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Course Dinner, lunch, Main Course, Soup

Cuisine American

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time 3 hours hours

Total Time 3 hours hours 5 minutes minutes

Servings 8 servings

Calories 216kcal

Author Liren Baker

Ingredients

• ▢ 1 lb dried split peas rinsed and sorted
• ▢ 1 medium yellow onion peeled and chopped
• ▢ 1 large leek cleaned and chopped
• ▢ 2 medium carrots chopped
• ▢ 3 stalks celery chopped
• ▢ 6 cloves garlic peeled
• ▢ 1 bay leaf
• ▢ 3 sprigs thyme
• ▢ 1 hambone with a good amount of meat on bone
• ▢ 8 cups water
• ▢ 2 teaspoons kosher salt plus more, to taste
• ▢ freshly ground black pepper

COOK MODEPrevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

If Using a Slow Cooker:

• In the insert of a slow cooker, place the peas, onion, leek, carrots, celery, garlic, bay leaf, thyme, ham bone, and water. If your slow cooker allows, bring it to a boil, and skim any foam off the top. Set the slow cooker to cook on high for 3-4 hours or on low for 8 hours.
• Retrieve the ham and remove the meat, chopping up the large chunks into smaller bite-sized pieces. Discard the bone and set aside the ham.
• Remove the bay leaf and any sprigs of thyme and discard.
• Puree the soup by blending it in several batches, or by using an immersion blender. Return both the soup and the ham to the slow cooker. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve hot, with a some good, warm bread.

If Using Stovetop:

• Place the peas, onion, leek, carrots, celery, garlic, bay leaf, thyme, ham bone, and water in a large pot, such as a Dutch oven, over medium-high heat. 
• Bring to a boil, and skim any foam off the top.
• Reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for 1 1/2 hours, or until the peas are tender, stirring occasionally. 
• Retrieve the ham and remove the meat, chopping the large chunks into smaller bite-sized pieces. Discard the bone and set aside the ham.
• Remove the bay leaf and any sprigs of thyme and discard.
• Puree the soup by blending it in several batches in a blender or by using an immersion blender.
• Return both the soup and the ham to the pot. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve hot, with warm bread.

Notes

The first time I fell in love with Split Pea Soup, I was in grad school, and my friend Liz served this one cold night. This is based on her comforting recipe.

Nutrition

Calories: 216kcal | Carbohydrates: 39g | Protein: 15g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 0.1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Sodium: 617mg | Potassium: 661mg | Fiber: 15g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 2844IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 60mg | Iron: 3mg

Did you make this recipe?I’d love to see! Tag @kitchconfidante on Instagram and hashtag it #kitchenconfidante