Tiffany Haney
Split pea soup is a comforting and hearty meal that can be easily made in a crock pot. It is a simple dish that requires minimal preparation and can be left to cook slowly throughout the day. The soup is perfect for cold days and can be paired with grilled cheese sandwiches or crusty bread for a delicious and satisfying meal. The key to a great-tasting split pea soup is in the slow cooking process, allowing the flavours to develop and the peas to become tender.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Prep time | 5-15 minutes |
| Ingredients | Split peas, vegetables (carrots, celery, onion), herbs (thyme, bay leaf, parsley), meat (bacon, ham, or ham hock), chicken stock, water |
| Cooking time | 4-10 hours |
| Cooking temperature | Low and slow |
| Serving suggestions | Bread, grilled cheese sandwiches |
| Storage | Refrigerate in an airtight container for 3-5 days or freeze for up to 3 months |
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What You'll Learn
Prepping the peas
Firstly, select the type of peas you want to use. Yellow or green split peas are commonly used for this soup, but you can also use frozen peas if that's what you have on hand. If you opt for dried split peas, ensure they are of good quality and have a recent best-before date, as older peas may take longer to cook.
The next step is to rinse and sort the peas. Place the peas in a strainer and give them a good rinse under running water to remove any dust or debris. While rinsing, take the opportunity to sort through the peas and discard any discoloured or shrivelled ones, as well as any foreign objects that may be present.
After rinsing and sorting, you need to decide whether to soak the peas. Soaking is recommended if you plan to cook the soup on high heat for 4 to 5 hours. Soaking helps to soften the peas and reduce the cooking time. Simply cover the peas with clean water and let them soak overnight or for at least 8 hours. Then, drain and rinse them again before adding to the crock pot. However, if you intend to cook the soup on low heat for 8 to 10 hours, soaking the peas is not necessary.
Once your peas are prepared, it's time to combine them with the other ingredients in the crock pot. Typically, you'll add vegetables like onions, carrots, and celery, as well as a ham bone or diced ham for flavour. Don't forget to season with herbs and spices like thyme, bay leaf, parsley, and pepper. Finally, add water or stock, ensuring there is enough liquid to cover all the ingredients.
Remember, the key to prepping the peas for your crock pot pea soup is to follow the steps of rinsing, sorting, soaking (if needed), and then combining with the other ingredients. This process ensures that your peas are ready for slow cooking and will result in a delicious and hearty soup.
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Preparing the vegetables
Once you have your vegetables, it's time to start chopping. Cut the vegetables into small, evenly sized pieces. Try to keep the sizes consistent so that they cook evenly in the crock pot. You can also cut the vegetables into larger chunks if you prefer a chunkier soup.
If you want to add extra flavour to your soup, you can sauté the vegetables before adding them to the crock pot. Heat some oil in a pan over medium heat and add the vegetables. Cook them until they are slightly softened and browned, stirring occasionally. This step is optional but will add depth of flavour to your soup.
Finally, it's important to note that if you are using potatoes in your soup, it is best to avoid cutting them into very small pieces as they may dissolve into the soup during the long cooking process. Simply cut them into larger chunks and add them to the crock pot with the other vegetables.
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Cooking the meat
When it comes to cooking the meat for your pea soup, there are a few options to consider. Firstly, decide on the type of meat you want to use. Ham is a popular choice for pea soup, and you can use either diced ham or a ham bone. If using diced ham, you can buy it pre-cut to save time. Alternatively, you can use leftover slow-cooked ham, or opt for a Honey Baked Ham Bone, which can be purchased separately. If you're not a fan of ham, you can also use shredded pork picnic (smoked pork shoulder) or smoked sausage.
If you're using a ham bone, be sure to leave all the good meat on it. The meat will become tender during the slow cooking process, and you can then pull it off the bone and add it to the soup at the end. If you're cooking with diced ham, you have the option to fry it in the pot first (if your crockpot has a sear function), and then remove it while you fry the vegetables in the leftover oil. This will give your soup a deeper, meatier flavour.
If you're using shredded pork or smoked sausage, you can brown the meat in a skillet before adding it to the soup. For sausage, add it about 20 minutes before the soup is done, and for shredded pork, you can simply add it to the crockpot with the other ingredients.
Remember, if you're cooking the soup for 4 hours or less on high heat, it's recommended to soak your peas overnight to ensure they're tender. However, if you're slow cooking for more than 4 hours, there's no need to soak the peas beforehand.
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Combining the ingredients
Next, prepare the vegetables and meat. The vegetables commonly used are onions, carrots, and celery, which should be chopped. For the meat, diced or sliced ham is commonly used, but bacon is also an option. If using bacon, it can be fried in the pot first and then removed, and the vegetables can be fried in the leftover oil. The ham can also be substituted with a ham bone, which will get tender while slow cooking and can be pulled off the bone and added to the soup at the end.
Finally, combine all the ingredients in the crock pot. The order in which the ingredients are layered can vary, but one suggestion is to start with the peas, followed by the meat, and then the vegetables. Add the herbs and spices, such as garlic, bay leaf, parsley, pepper, and salt. Lastly, pour in the water or stock. Chicken stock is commonly used, but ham stock can be used for a smokier flavor.
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Thickening the soup
To thicken your pea soup, you can try a few different methods. Firstly, the peas themselves will break down and thicken the soup as they cook, so you can simply let the soup simmer for longer. If you are cooking your soup for 4 hours or less, you should soak your peas overnight to help them break down.
You can also try cooking the soup with the lid off for about an hour to reduce the liquid content and create a thicker consistency. Adding a potato or two to the soup can also help to thicken it. If you want to keep the soup vegetarian, you can use vegetable broth or stock to thin the soup, and then add more if you want to thin it out again.
If you are happy to add meat to your soup, you can use ham or a ham hock to help with thickening. The soup will also thicken as it cools, so you can always try making it in advance and letting it cool in the fridge. Finally, you can blend the soup or use a potato masher to mash the peas and vegetables, creating a smooth or chunky texture that will be thicker than a soup with whole vegetables.
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Frequently asked questions
It takes 4-5 hours on high heat or 8-10 hours on low heat.
You will need split peas, ham or a ham bone or hock, vegetables (carrots, celery, onion, garlic, and parsley), bay leaf, pepper, salt, and water or stock.
First, soak the peas overnight in clean water and then drain and rinse them. Next, combine all the ingredients in the crock pot, cover, and cook until the peas are tender. Finally, season with salt and pepper to taste and serve.
You can make your pea soup thicker by mashing the peas or blending the soup. You can also reduce the liquid or cook with the lid off.
