Tuesday, December 29, 2009

SLOW COOKER SPLIT PEA SOUP




I consider myself a novice still when it comes to using the slow cooker, but I decided I was ready for a challenge. With a ham bone in the freezer from the lovely glazed spiral ham we served at a recent Christmas party, I thought I'd try to make split pea soup in the crockpot. I've seen recipes using a variety of dried beans to make soup and none of them called for presoaking the beans. I decided I would rinse and pick over my split green peas, but skip the soaking. I dislike potatoes in my split pea soup, but wanted something besides carrots and decided to use some parsnips, one of our favorite root vegetables.

The soup went together very quickly and we headed out to return a few Christmas gifts. When we arrived home some 3 hours later, the house was already fragrant with the soup. It was hard to wait the other two and a half hours until it was done, but it was well worth the wait.

Head on over to Crockpot Wednesdays on Dining with Debbie for some more slow cooker inspiration.

Serves 6 - 8 WW pts per serving
1 lb dried green split peas, rinsed and picked over
1 medium onion, chopped
6 carrots, peeled and chopped (medium chop)
4 large parsnips, peeled and chopped (medium chop)
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 ham bone with a generous amount of meat still on it
6 cups of water
salt and pepper to taste

Add the chopped carrots, parsnips, and garlic to the slow cooker. Cover with the split peas, then with the water. Nestle the ham bone in the middle of this, submerging it. Cook on high for 5-6 hours. About a half hour before it's ready, remove the ham bone, let it cool, then remove the meat and add it back to the slow cooker. Season to taste.
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TASTE NOTES
This was, without a doubt, the very best pea soup I've ever made--and dare I say--eaten. It was naturally sweet due to the glazed spiral ham. The parsnips melted on the tongue and were so much more satisfying than potatoes. We each ate a very generous bowlful and I have 4 more generous servings in the fridge. I will definitely make this again, as is, but will also use the slow cooker in the future to make my dried legume-based soups. There was no need to stir (okay, I confess, I took the lid off and stirred; but, I didn't have to) and the peas were creamy smooth.








11 comments:

  1. I love ur tastee notes...this is something hearty and would love to have before dinner tonight coz i love green peas and love a sweeter soup...
    Dont have a slow cooker but i know jus how i can manage this one...it looks too good to resist....

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  2. I love my slow cooker too! I've been using mine about once a week.

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  3. I love split pea soup, but have never cooked it at home. This looks delicious and creamy very savory with the addition of the ham bone. Isn't it hard to resist lifting the lid on the slow cooker and sampling a bite?

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  4. Parsnips are one of my favorites! I would prefer them in this soup rather than potatoes, too.

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  5. Thanks for this recipe. I have the bone from my spiral ham that I wanted to use in a recipe and this healthy and perfect.

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  6. We must have been thinking alike. I posted a split pea sup recipe too using our hambone from Thanksgiving.
    Your soup looks really good. I need to break out my slow cooker more often too.

    Happy New Year to you.

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  7. I, too, feel like a novice with the slow cooker. I really need to take it out and use it more often. And with the cold weather now, it's so nice to have different kinds of soups. Your split pea soup sounds like a great one to try! Thanks.

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  8. I always have used my ham bone to make pea soup... it's one of my husband's favorite soups.. I never cooked it in a crock pot, however! I actually asked for and received a crock pot cookbook for Christmas so that I'd use it more. The addition of parsnips sounds good too!

    Happy New Year Arlene! It has been wonderful reading all your recipes in 2009 and I look forward to more good ideas from you in 2010.

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  9. merry Christmas Arlene And Happy New Year.
    Hoping to get back with the group after new years
    I just want to know where the time goes...
    Susan

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  10. Looks like a perfect soup. I love potatoes but I bet the parsnips were a wonderful addition!

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