Recipe byThe ZestyPlate Kitchen
A thick, comforting soup of split peas simmered with gammon and vegetables, blended smooth and topped with shredded ham. Lovely with crusty bread.
Dried split peas simmered with a whole ham hock until the soup turns thick and almost velvety. Shred that tender ham back through it and you have a proper meal in a bowl rather than a starter. This is cheap, filling cooking that rewards a bit of patience, and it loves a hunk of crusty bread alongside.
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Prep 15 min
Cook 150 min
Total 165 min
Easy
Scale:
- 1kg Ham
- 200g (soaked overnight) Peas
- 2 chopped Onions
- 2 chopped Carrots
- 2 Bay Leaves
- 1 chopped Celery
- 300g Frozen Peas
- to serve Bread
Nutrition (per serving)
365
kcal
33g
Protein
24g
Carbs
15g
Fat
Estimated per serving. How we calculate this.
Tags:
Soup Warm
Preparation
- Put the gammon in a very large pan with 2 litres of water and bring to the boil. Take it off the heat and drain off the water to lose some of the saltiness. Cover again with 2 litres of cold water and bring back to the boil. Add everything except the frozen peas and bring to the boil. Drop to a simmer and cook for 1½ to 2½ hours, topping up the water as needed to hold it at a similar level. As the ham softens you can halve it so it stays submerged. It is ready once the ham pulls apart into shreds.
- Lift out the ham, peel off and discard the skin, and while it is still hot (wearing clean rubber gloves) shred the meat. Remove the bay from the soup and stir in the frozen peas. Simmer for 1 minute, then blend until smooth, adding a splash of water if it is too thick, and return it to the pan to heat through if needed.
- To serve, mix the hot soup with most of the ham, reheating gently if you made it ahead. Ladle into bowls, scatter the rest of the ham over the top and eat with crusty bread and butter.
Tips from the ZestyPlate Kitchen
- Boil the ham once and tip away that first water to draw off some of the salt.
- Keep an eye on the level and top up with water as it simmers, so the soup does not catch or dry out.
- Blend it smooth, or leave some texture in if you prefer a chunkier bowl.
- Taste before you reach for the salt, since the ham already seasons the pot.
Frequently Asked Questions
An overnight soak helps them break down faster and more evenly. That said, split peas will still soften over a longer simmer if you forget.
Yes. Leave out the ham, use vegetable stock and add a little smoked paprika for that smoky note. The split peas alone still give you a lovely thick soup.
It freezes really well. Cool it completely, freeze in portions and reheat gently, loosening it with a splash of water as you go.
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