Healthy Slow Cooker Split Pea Soup with Ham and Bacon

Beautiful Green Split Peas

Monday is St. Patrick's Day, and it's all about green in our house on St. Patty's/St. Paddy's Day.  We'll be having green smoothies in the morning, green celery with peanut butter at lunch, and some fabulously green, Healthy, Flavorful, and Easy to make b/c it's in the Crock Pot Split Pea Soup for dinner.    

I realize this soup isn't your traditional Irish type of food, but corned beef can really do a number on the smells in your home, and this soup is a whole heck of a lot healthier.  

Split Pea Soup has been a favorite food for more than half of my 22 month old son's life.  It's still right up there with cookies (his all time favorite).  My son Lucas had his first taste of Split Pea Soup at 6 months old, and for almost a year of his life it was the only thing he wanted to eat for dinner.  I made a lot of split pea soup, and I learned at this time that it freezes fabulously. 

B/c my son was always eating it I had friends ask me what Split Pea Soup was.  For some reason, I thought everyone knew about the awesomeness and healthy benefits of split pea soup.  With the touch of bacon in this recipe it adds a whole new dimension of flavor that once you try it you won't go back.   

Split Pea Soup is healthy, so filling aka fiber (so it's a great diet food), it's delicious, baby's to adults can eat this pureed soup, and it is easy to make b/c you just throw everything in the crock pot/slow cooker.

This Split Pea Soup would make an excellent Green dinner this St. Patrick's Day, or any time you want something healthy, flavorful, and filling.  

Slow Cooker Split Pea Soup with Ham & Bacon
Recipe: Alohamora slightly adapted from Skinnytaste.com
Active Time: 20 minutes
Inactive Time: 4-6 hours
Servings: 6-8

Ingredients:

1 lb or 2 1/4 c. dry green split peas
2 c. carrots, diced 
3/4 c. onion, diced 
3 cloves minced garlic, minced
1 1/2 c. ham, diced (leftover ham here is great)
1/2 c. bacon bits
8 c. water
1 cube chicken bouillon
1 bay leaf

Directions:

1. Dump your dry split peas in a strainer and rinse them with cold water.  Dump them into the bottom of the crock pot/slow cooker.  
2. Toss the carrots, onion, garlic, ham, bacon, water, and chicken bouillon into your crock pot.  Stir to combine everything. 
3. Place a bay leaf on top and close your lid. 
4. Cook on low for 4-6 hours. 
5. Remove bay leaf. 
6. Use an immersion blender, or transfer the liquid to your blender and puree your soup to your desired consistency.  If you are using a blender to puree the soup remove the hold in the lid to help with the pressure/heat and place a paper towel over the lid to save your kitchen. 
7. Enjoy your healthy green soup!
8. For gluten free you will need to check the bouillon labels.