Ham and split pea soup made with thick cuts of smoky ham and then topped with extra pieces of crispy ham. Comfort food in a bowl.
{This post is an oldie from my first blog, Life Food, and Beer. I'm not cooking with beer like I once did, but I still love this recipe. To read more about my food philosophy now, click on the About Me page.}
I LOVE split pea soup. It's not something I remember having when I was growing up, but I started making it a few years ago and can not get enough. The hearty texture, the ham, and of course the beer, all make for one big bowl of goodness! Throw in a huge loaf of crusty bread for dipping, and I'm in heaven!
This recipe can easily be made in a slow cooker or on the stovetop. It's pretty much the same amount of work in both ways. You just need to stir it more often on the stove. I highly recommend using a homemade or low sodium chicken stock for this recipe because ham is high in salt and it may become too salty.
On to the beer. I went with New Belgium Shift. As you can tell, we had a bunch of this stuff at the house. The grains kind of give it a slight bread taste, which is perfect since I love dipping bread in this soup!
Again, I would avoid hoppy beers. They'll be overpowering. I try to suggest beers that I've tried and are pretty common everywhere. Of course, you can try any Lager, Pilsner, Belgian or Wheat beer you like. You'll need something with an earthy, grainy, bread-like taste to it. I'd steer clear of the raspberry flavored wheat beer for this recipe 😉
Please feel free to share your suggestions for a beer you think would work well in this dish in the comment section below.
Other Beers to Try in the Ham and Split Pea Soup:
- Fat Tire- New Belgium
- UFO White- Harpoon Brewery
- Easy Street Wheat- Odell Brewing
*Gluten-Free Option:
Chicken or vegetable stock can be substituted for the beer in this recipe.
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