Here’s how make my pea soup:
In a hard bottomed stew pot sauté onions, minced garlic and your diced ham. I have added parsley and a small amount thyme leaves as well. If I have fresh celery, dice that up in small pieces and in it goes, too!
I use a lot of ham
Add a bag of peas, the usual standard size.
I add enough chicken broth to cover the split peas, adding maybe a little hot water.
Simmer, adding seasonings as you like such as salt , pepper, as well as the ham bone if you have one. Simmer until soft but not too mushy. I think it takes about 45 minutes total.
I also “have used” bacon in place of the ham but truly think ham is betterthis...***blasphemy lol, but true!
So really the way I make pea soup is not that “secret or special”, unless it’s using chicken broth instead of plain water to make the soup broth. It should be slightly thick but not overly thick.
It always turns out delicious and seems to be foolproof. I use the exact same method for lentil soup, too. For lentils it I’ve only used ham.
I’m guessing a crockpot would work too,, but the soup doesn’t take very long on the stove so I don’t bother with the cp.