Green Split Pea Turkey Soup (Print View)

A comforting blend of green peas, smoked turkey, and vegetables simmered to tender perfection.

# Ingredient List:

→ Meats

01 - 1 pound smoked turkey wings or drumsticks

→ Legumes

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

→ Vegetables

03 - 1 medium onion, chopped
04 - 2 medium carrots, diced
05 - 2 celery stalks, diced
06 - 2 cloves garlic, minced

→ Liquids

07 - 8 cups low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth
08 - 1 bay leaf

→ Seasonings

09 - 1 teaspoon dried thyme
10 - ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
11 - Salt, to taste

→ Garnishes (optional)

12 - Chopped fresh parsley
13 - Croutons

# How to Make:

01 - Heat a splash of oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add onion, carrots, and celery; sauté for 4–5 minutes until softened.
02 - Stir in minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
03 - Add green split peas, smoked turkey, broth, bay leaf, thyme, and black pepper. Bring mixture to a boil.
04 - Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 1 hour, stirring occasionally, until peas are tender and soup has thickened.
05 - Remove turkey pieces from pot. Shred meat from bones, discarding skin and bones, and return meat to soup.
06 - Remove and discard bay leaf. Taste soup and adjust salt as needed.
07 - Ladle hot soup into bowls and garnish with fresh parsley or croutons if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The smoked turkey transforms humble split peas into something extraordinary, deepening the flavor in ways ham alone never quite achieves
  • It only gets better after a day in the refrigerator, making it the ultimate cook once, eat twice comfort food
02 -
  • I once forgot to rinse the split peas and ended up with gritty soup, which taught me that extra minute of preparation absolutely matters
  • Partially blending about a third of the soup before returning the turkey creates that restaurant-style creamy texture while keeping some lovely chunks for texture
03 -
  • Skim any foam that rises to the surface during the first 15 minutes of simmering for a cleaner tasting final soup
  • If the soup seems too thick at any point, add more broth rather than water to maintain the depth of flavor

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