Green Split Pea Soup (Printable)

Hearty soup of green split peas and smoked turkey leg, seasoned with herbs and spices for rich flavor.

# What You'll Need:

→ Meats

01 - 1 smoked turkey leg (about 1 pound)

→ Legumes

02 - 2 cups dried green split peas, rinsed and sorted

→ Vegetables

03 - 1 large onion, finely chopped
04 - 2 medium carrots, diced
05 - 2 celery stalks, diced
06 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
07 - 1 bay leaf

→ Liquids

08 - 8 cups low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth

→ Spices & Seasonings

09 - 1 teaspoon dried thyme
10 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
11 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
12 - Salt, to taste

→ Optional Garnishes

13 - Chopped fresh parsley
14 - Croutons

# How To Make It:

01 - Heat a splash of oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add onion, carrots, and celery. Sauté for 5 minutes until softened.
02 - Stir in garlic, thyme, black pepper, and smoked paprika. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
03 - Add rinsed split peas, smoked turkey leg, bay leaf, and broth. Stir to combine all ingredients thoroughly.
04 - Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer for 1 hour, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
05 - Remove lid and continue simmering for 30 minutes, or until peas are tender and soup has thickened to desired consistency.
06 - Remove turkey leg and discard bay leaf. Shred meat from bone, discarding skin and bone, then return meat to pot.
07 - Taste and adjust salt as needed. For smoother texture, partially blend with immersion blender while leaving some chunks for texture.
08 - Serve hot in bowls, garnished with fresh parsley or croutons if desired.

# Tips from dashanddishes:

01 -
  • The smoked turkey leg infuses every spoonful with deep, smoky richness that bacon or ham simply cannot match
  • This soup costs pennies to make but tastes like something from a restaurant that takes reservations
  • Leftovers taste even better the next day, making it perfect for batch cooking on Sunday
02 -
  • The soup continues thickening as it cools, so stop cooking while it still looks slightly thinner than your ideal consistency
  • Smoked turkey legs vary in saltiness, so always taste before adding extra salt at the end
  • If the turkey leg feels especially smoky, you might want to skip the optional smoked paprika
03 -
  • Rinse split peas in a mesh strainer until water runs clear to remove any dust or debris
  • Start with less broth than you think you need, adding more only as the soup thickens

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