Slow Cooker Split Pea and Ham Soup

34

PREP TIME

15 min

TOTAL TIME

8 hrs 15 min

Makes

16 cups

Slow Cooker Split Pea and Ham Soup

Photo: Erik Putz

Slow and steady wins the race with this hearty soup. 15 minutes of prep is all that's required of you. The reward is a bounty of freezer meals your future self will thank you for.

Ingredients

  • 1 kg smoked ham hock , skin and fat removed
  • 2 cups dried yellow split peas , rinsed
  • 1 onion , chopped
  • 2 celery stalks , chopped
  • 2 carrots , peeled and chopped
  • 4 garlic cloves , minced
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ½ tsp pepper
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 2 900-mL cartons reduced-sodium chicken broth
  • 4 cups water
  • chopped parsley , optional

Instructions

  • In a 6-qt slow cooker, stir together ham hock, split peas, onion, celery, carrots, garlic, salt, pepper, bay leaves, broth and water. Cook on low for 8 hours.
  • Remove ham hock from the slow cooker and shred meat using 2 forks. Discard the bone and any fat. Return 2 cups of shredded ham to your soup. Reserve remaining ham for another use.
  • Stir in fresh parsley, if desired. Serve with crusty baguette and green salad.

Makeover your leftovers

Ham and Cheese Frittata: Whisk 8 eggs in a large bowl. Stir in ½ cup shredded cheddar or Swiss cheese, ¼ cup milk, ½ tsp salt and ¼ tsp pepper. Heat 2 tbsp oil in a 10-in. cast-iron or oven-safe frying pan over medium heat. Add 1 sliced onion and cook until softened, 5 min, then stir in leftover shredded ham. Pour in egg mixture, then sprinkle with another ½ cup shredded cheese. Bake at 375F until centre is just set, about 15 min.

Stir-fried Rice: In a large frying pan, stir-fry ¼ cup each of chopped carrot and celery in 1 tbsp oil over medium heat. Stir in remaining shredded ham. Add 2 beaten eggs, stirring constantly until cooked. Stir in 3 tbsp lime juice, 2 tbsp soy sauce, 2 tsp chili-garlic sauce and 1 tsp sesame oil. Add 1 cup cooked rice and a handful thawed frozen peas. Stir-fry until everything is heated through.

Nutrition (per cup)

  • Calories
  • 135,
  • Protein
  • 12 g,
  • Carbohydrates
  • 18 g,
  • Fat
  • 2 g,
  • Fibre
  • 3 g,
  • Sodium
  • 519 mg.

Originally published in the March + April 2018 issue. Photo by Erik Putz.

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