This cozy soup is a Cook Smarts classic, last featured in 2015. Smarts #1: The ham will impart a lot of flavor to the soup, so be sure to get ham with flavors you would like - honey roasted or smoked, etc. If you’d like to top the bowls of finished soup with some extra chopped ham, reserve a small amount before adding it to the soup. Smarts #2: The thickness of the soup will vary depending on how much the peas break down, so you may need to stir in some more stock or some water at the end of cooking.
Sour cream (opt) - for serving
(sub plain or Greek yogurt)
Baguette - 1 , sub any crusty bread
Green Salad with White Wine Vinaigrette:
Vinegar, red or white wine - 1 1/2 Tbsp
Mustard, Dijon - 1 1/2 tsp
Honey - 1/2 tsp
Oregano, dried - 1/4 tsp
Oil, olive - 3 Tbsp
Grapes - 1 cup , halved
Mixed greens - 5 oz
Pistachios, shelled - 1/4 cup
(sub any type of nuts)
Choose Cooking Method
Prep
Onions / Carrots / Ham - Prep as directed. Combine onions and carrots. Store ham in its own container. (Can be done up to 5 days ahead)
Make vinaigrette - Whisk together vinegar, mustard, honey, and dried oregano (portion for salad). Add olive oil while whisking. Season with some salt and pepper. (Can be done up to 5 days ahead)
Combine onions, carrots, ham, thyme leaves, dried oregano (portion for slow cooker), red pepper flakes, stock, split peas, and bay leaves in the bowl of a slow cooker. Cook until split peas are completely soft, on high for 2 to 3 hours or low for 5 to 6 hours.
Grapes - Halve grapes.
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When soup is done cooking, discard bay leaves. Taste and season with some salt and pepper. If the soup is very thick, thin it with some more stock or water.
Just before serving, toss greens, pistachios, and grapes in vinaigrette until dressed to your liking.
Divide soup between bowls and top with sour cream. Serve soup with salad and bread on the side. Enjoy!
Prep
Onions / Carrots / Ham - Prep as directed. Combine onions and carrots. Store ham in its own container. (Can be done up to 5 days ahead)
Make vinaigrette - Whisk together vinegar, mustard, honey, and dried oregano (portion for salad). Add olive oil while whisking. Season with some salt and pepper. (Can be done up to 5 days ahead)
Grapes - Halve grapes.
Unlock this meal along with hundreds of smart meal plans and never stress about "What's for dinner?" again
Heat a Dutch oven with some oil over medium heat. Add onions, carrots, and thyme leaves with some salt. Saute until soft, 4 to 5 minutes. Stir in ham, dried oregano (portion for soup), red pepper flakes, stock, split peas, and bay leaves. Bring to a boil.
When soup is boiling, reduce heat to a low simmer and cover. Simmer, covered, until peas are completely soft, 40 to 50 minutes.
When soup is done cooking, discard bay leaves. Taste and season with some salt and pepper. If the soup is very thick, thin it with some more stock or water.
Just before serving, toss greens, pistachios, and grapes in vinaigrette until dressed to your liking.
Divide soup between bowls and top with sour cream. Serve soup with salad and bread on the side. Enjoy!