Canadian Yellow Split Pea Soup with Ham

Recipe View Gather all the necessary ingredients for your culinary creation. (Prep time: 15 minutes)

Recipe View In a large, heavy-bottomed pot, combine the ham bone, yellow split peas, diced celery, diced carrots, diced onion, kosher salt, dried thyme, bay leaf, and a pinch of black pepper. Pour in the water, ensuring all ingredients are submerged. Bring the mixture to a rolling boil over high heat, then meticulously skim off any foam or impurities that rise to the surface using a spoon. This step ensures a clearer, smoother soup. (Cook time: 30 minutes)

Recipe View Once skimmed, reduce the heat to low, cover the pot with a lid slightly ajar to allow for some evaporation, and gently simmer, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking. Continue simmering until the yellow split peas are tender and the soup has thickened to your desired consistency, approximately 3 hours. The longer it simmers, the richer and more flavorful the soup becomes. (Cook time: 3 hours)

Recipe View Carefully remove the ham bone from the soup using tongs or a slotted spoon. Allow it to cool slightly before handling. Once cool enough to handle, remove the meat from the ham bone, chop or shred it into bite-sized pieces, and return it to the pot of soup. Stir well to distribute the ham evenly throughout the soup. (Prep time: 15 minutes)