Submitted by Paulene Christie
Classic Pea and Ham Soup
Ingredients
- 2 x 500g pkts of green split peas
- 2 large onions, coarsely chopped
- 1kg of chunked bacon off the bone (leftover smoked Christmas leg ham works too) OR 2-3 Large ham hocks
- 6 cups of water
Instructions
- Rinse split peas until water until water runs clear
- No need to pre-soak peas
- Add rinsed peas to slow cooker
- Add onion and bacon/ham chunks
- Add water - water it takes to fill your slow cooker to approx 1 inch from the top
- I used 6 cups in a 6L slow cooker
- Cook on HIGH for approx 8hrs. Discard the hock fat & bones towards the end & just return the super tender, shredded ham back to the pot for the final hour.
- Stir occasionally during cooking time.
Notes
- Serve with crusty bread rolls
- No need to pre soak the peas - I do thoroughly rinse them first though in a colander
- We only use green split peas but you can use yellow if you want. (DRIED SPLIT PEAS not green vegetable type frozen peas)
- I cook on HIGH all day right through until peas are fully broken down 6-8hrs - then down to low until I’m ready to serve. Never fails
- We love it super thick (hence 2 bags) in a 6L cooker, if you don’t then using 1 bag is fine
- This soup will happily sit in ‘keep warm’ setting after cooking (for 2-4hrs max.) then get lefotvers into the fridge. Great for family members who eat at different times
- Leftovers freeze great in portions & microwave or stove to reheat for cheap winter lunches or frozen dinners
Tried this recipe?Scroll Down To Share What You Think
I intend to make this soup the next time my lawn mower man comes. He mows for free so I feed him & he loves pea & ham soup. He is hard to fill up, so I’ll be adding carrots and potatoes to this recipe. And some crunchy rolls with yummy butter. But your recipe for a base.
I am making this tonight should be ready for lunch tomorrow
Made this for the other half. Never made it before but told him I bet I can make it as good as your favourite restaurant. Apparently it was pretty much just as good as theirs so I’m claiming a win.
It was beautifully thick and oh so flavoursome no salt was needed it had enough naturally. I did however add a hock as well as bacon pieces.
With crusty buns and real butter it was an ultimate comfort meal that had my better half and I wanting to just sit and vegetate after dinner pure delicious old school comfort food.
Thank you for such lovely feedback! 🙂
Thanks for this recipe, I’m going to make it tomorrow. Just wondering about seasoning, salt,pepper etc. Would you add any during cooking or just to serve?
Thanks again i5s my granddads fav from his childhood so can’t wait to make it for him xx
I find it salty enough due to the ham but I like to add any further seasoning after serving if you think it’s needed 🙂
Am I able to use a smoked Hock instead of the bacon in this recipe?
Sure you could 🙂
Could I do this on low overnight?
Sure 🙂
If you are happy to cook overnight it would easily cook that long nice and low
Thank you for A great recipe I love pea and ham soup and I tried this recipe and just loved and I froze some for later but it is all gone now . will surely cook this again this winter
Did try this recipe once using 2pkts split peas and I could have used mixture for a stepping stone lol it was so thick couldnt even cut it with a hacksaw lol. Then realise my cooker was only a 4.5L so I’m thinking I only need 1 Pkt of peas. Have to say though the smell was devine?
Absolutely lol
1 packet is all you’ll need for one that size
I want to add carrots and celery, maybe a hint of garlic..?
Sure 🙂
Add them from the start
I’m super keen to try this for my hubby, sorry if this is a stupid question but how do I know how much / many back bones to buy? If you need 1kg of meat off the bone, wont the weight shown on the packaging include the weight of the bone?
The more you have the better then flavour so I’d do whatever fits in your cooker really 🙂
Then take the meat off the bone towards the end 🙂
Made this today ……I can see why it’s your favourite …..delicious thank you
Loved this one. Next time I’ll probably remove the fat off my hock and add another as the fat was a bit yuck when eating it and I found I needed more meat. ?
Rich & insanely thick.
Super Y U M M Y!
Love this soup and freeze 5 extra meals
Perfect Pea & Ham soup!!! I added 2 hocks for extra meat & blitz it .. kids had 3 bowls & still enough leftover!! Perfect for a rainy day meal!!!
Thank you so much for this recipe Pauline.- I have never managed to get close to the pea & ham soup that my mum used to make until I found this recipe. Best pea and ham soup ever – family & friends love it
I made this last week but only did half the recipe in a small slow cooker. I needed more water (more than half the recipe) but boy oh boy it was a success. My first ever pea and ham soup – so thank you for sharing an amazingly easy no fail recipe. Does not require salting after cooking. Hot Ciabatta bread on the side ?
Hi,
Just wondering has anyone made this and used chicken stock instead of water?
It would be extra salty if you added stock instead of water but you could if you wanted it saltier
Hi Pauline, I have been making Pea & Ham soup for 50 years from my Nanna’s recipe. I estimate the recipe is considerably older than that. Your recipe tastes just like it. The only thing I do differently is boiling the bacon hock and bacon bones the day before. This enables me to scoop off all the fat from the stock. You would be very surprised how much fat there is. The bacon bones are added for loads of flavour, not a lot of meat on them. Also Nanna always added a grated carrot, maybe to bulk up the recipe during the war years.
Well done Pauline and best wishes from Fremantle, Western Australia.
This is the best pea and ham soup I’ve ever made
Just so delicious
Made this yesterday with 2 packs peas. Had to put about 10 cups water but it still ended up extremely thick. I will halve the amount of peas next time.
I generally use yellow split peas. Do you know what the difference is between the green and yellow?
Hi, this recipe is high for 8 hours. Is this correct? Other P&H recipes on SCC say low for 6-8.?
Yes I always do mine on high for 100% guaranteed great results with peas broken down as they should be and a thick soupy result every time 🙂
This was one of mine done today, it took only 7 hours for me and taste is Ok..
I experimented with yellow peas in a smaller SC and instead of water, I used Beef stock, very nice flavour.
Green peas 8/10, yellow and beef stock 9+/10
The best pea and ham soup you can make. This recipe is a firm favourite and go-to in the winter time!
Can I use yellow split peas? What is the difference between the green and yellow please
I’ve used yellow before – still works 🙂
Can I use both green and yellow peas
Yes some folk do that Myssie 🙂
Easy as. Was thick enough with one packet of split peas and I also added some onion and carrot. Once cooked blitzed it and it was nice and thick.
So easy to make a sure winner for a winters day ?
So easy.
Hubby loved it. ?
Amazing soup. easy.. healthy and delicious
We had thia for dinner tonight. Cooked it overnight last night. It was a hit, definitely be cooking this again as we didn’t have much leftover to freeze. I only used a packet of split peas and 1 bacon hock. We really enjoyed our dinner. We partnered it with a toastled sliced bread, next time I will get a crusty bread to dip on it. It is not very thick but we love it just the same. Hubby nearly licked his plate.?
It’s a budget friendly and super easy recipe. I only use packet and add potatoes, carrots and beans. This recipe is delicious 🤤
Beautiful pea and ham soup, just like my mum made. Cooked for 7 1/2 hours, meat just fell of the bone. Another great recipe. Thank you Pauline for sharing.😋
Followed the recipe but used 1 packet of split peas, a 1.1kg ham hock and 2.5L of water in 6L slow cooker. Hardly any fat at all from hock. Tasted delicious but needed a bit of salt added. Will definitely make this again.
is this recipe for 5L cooker please. cheers
I made it in a 6L usually but it will also be ok in a 5L just fill to the same height advice 🙂
Made this tonight for our church’s winter soup and sandwiches.
Everyone loved it!!
I used a 2kg ham on the bone (cut in half) and split it between 2 slow cookers -combining them at the end.
Will definitely be having this recipe again – thanks!!
Love this recipe with a smoked chicken chop in it yummy
I just halved the pkt of peas as cooked in my 2.5l SC
thanks Paulene
Needed a bit of salt so added two tablespoons of home made stock paste.
Puréed so mixture still had ham as hunks.
Made this for a mid week meal whilst working from home on a chilly Vic day. Was a hit with everyone they thoroughly enjoyed it and went back for seconds! I only added one packet of split peas and was nice and thick how I like it
It’s such a perfect tummy warmer on a cold day – so pleased you enjoyed it Toni! 🙂
best soup I’ve made in slow cooker
crusty bread, good to go
love this site
Hooray so pleased you loved it too Kassandra!
Long time family favourite
So easy and so tasty
That’s great to hear – thanks Tracey! 🙂
Longtime family favourite
So easy and so good 😊
Paulene thank you so much for all of your great recipes. Yesterday I made this delicious pea and ham soup. Not only was it easy, there is enough for another 2 meals. You are a legend. ❤️
Aww thanks Robyn!! So happy you loved it too 🙂
You’ve inspired me to put it back on my menu for next week!
this is the best soup. I added carrot and celery which I don’t normally do but had to use them or they would have had to be binned in a couple of days. 10/10
What wonderful feedback!
Thanks Debra 🙂
Once cold eat on crackers traditionally called peas pudding
Have just made this i didnt add bacon
I did add a little celery and bay leaf . And stock topped up with water . Men have had a taste and they love it ( I normally cook on stove ) I normally leave in fridge o/nite then scoop of fat . But its definitely easier ( of course in sc ) and smells yum 😋
I made this last night fam loved it .I left out bacon added stock topped up with water added a little celery and bay leaf I usually cook on stove but won’t anymore. Its a hit
That’s so great to hear! Thanks Ally 🙂
So tasty and filling, cooked as per the recipe but did add carrot and celery. While ham hock was out to be shredded, I lightly blended soup, giving it a silkier texture.
Served with garlic toasted bread. Perfect winter meal.
In fact the husband is going to make a pie floater with the leftover 😋
Thanks for the extra hints too Paulene!
Love the pie floater idea Sue! Tell hubby that’s great 🙂