Green Split Pea Soup (Printable)

Earthy green split peas and smoky turkey combine in a nourishing, warm soup perfect for cold weather.

# What You'll Need:

→ Meats

01 - 1 lb smoked turkey wings or drumsticks

→ Vegetables

02 - 1 large onion, finely chopped
03 - 2 medium carrots, diced
04 - 2 celery stalks, diced
05 - 3 garlic cloves, minced

→ Peas & Legumes

06 - 2 cups dried green split peas, rinsed

→ Liquids

07 - 8 cups low-sodium chicken broth or water

→ Herbs & Spices

08 - 2 bay leaves
09 - 1 teaspoon dried thyme
10 - 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
11 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
12 - Salt, to taste

→ Others

13 - 2 tablespoons olive oil

# How-To Steps:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large soup pot over medium heat. Add onion, carrots, and celery, and sauté for 5–7 minutes until softened.
02 - Stir in the garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
03 - Add split peas, smoked turkey, bay leaves, thyme, pepper, and smoked paprika. Pour in the broth or water and stir well.
04 - Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer for 1 hour, stirring occasionally.
05 - Remove the turkey pieces. Shred the meat off the bones, discarding skin and bones, then return the meat to the pot.
06 - Continue simmering uncovered for 20–30 minutes, or until peas are soft and soup reaches your desired consistency. Add more water if the soup becomes too thick.
07 - Season with salt to taste. Remove bay leaves before serving.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • Its budget friendly comfort food that tastes like it simmered all day even though it only needs minimal hands on time
  • The smoked turkey creates this incredible depth of flavor that makes people think youve been cooking for hours
  • This soup actually tastes better the next day so its perfect for meal prep or feeding a crowd
02 -
  • The soup will thicken considerably as it cools and even more overnight in the refrigerator, so dont worry if it seems slightly thin when you first finish cooking
  • If you want a smoother texture, use an immersion blender to partially puree about half the soup before returning the shredded meat
  • The smoked turkey can sometimes be quite salty, so always taste the soup before adding any additional salt at the end
03 -
  • Rinse the split peas until the water runs completely clear, this prevents any gritty texture in the finished soup
  • Patience during the initial vegetable saute makes a huge difference in the final depth of flavor

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