Soup · Dinner · Nordic ·

Hearty Finnish Hernekeitto with Smoked Ham

Name: Hearty Finnish Hernekeitto with Smoked Ham
Prep time: 60 min
Cook time: 180 min
Total time: 240 min
Yield: 6 servings
Cuisine: Soup
Ingredients: 2 cups dried split green peas, rinsed and sorted; 8 cups water or vegetable stock; 1 pound smoked ham hock or smoked ham, diced; 1 large onion, finely chopped; 2 cloves garlic, minced; 2 carrots, peeled and diced; 2 bay leaves; Salt and black pepper, to taste; Fresh dill, finely chopped; Mustard, optional

A comforting and savory Finnish soup made with split peas and smoked ham, perfect for cozy afternoons.

4.3(261 reviews)

·By Ethan Brooks·August 20, 2025

Hearty Finnish Hernekeitto with Smoked Ham — Soup served and photographed from above

Prep

1 h

Cook

3 h

Difficulty

Easy

Serves

Ingredients

Servings

For the Pea Soup

For the Garnishes

Nutrition

Per serving

Calories: 314 kcal
Protein: 22.5 g
Carbs: 26.2 g
Fat: 10 g
Fiber: 6.5 g

Whole recipe

Total

Calories: 1885 kcal
Protein: 135 g
Carbs: 157 g
Fat: 60 g
Fiber: 39 g

Breakdown by ingredient▾

Ingredient	Cal	P	C	F	Fib
2 cups dried split green peas rinsed and sorted	960	64	128	4	32
8 cups water or vegetable stock	0	0	0	0	0
1 pound smoked ham hock or smoked ham diced	800	68	0	56	0
1 large onion finely chopped	60	2	14	0	3
2 cloves garlic minced	10	0	2	0	0
2 carrots peeled and diced	50	1	12	0	4
2 bay leaves	0	0	0	0	0
Salt and black pepper to taste	0	0	0	0	0
Fresh dill finely chopped	5	0	1	0	0
Mustard optional	0	0	0	0	0

These are estimates, not dietary advice.

Preparation

Get these tasks done before you start cooking.

Preparing the Ingredients

1
Rinse and soak peas
The night before, rinse and soak the split peas in water.
2
Dice the ham
Dice the smoked ham into bite-sized pieces.
3
Chop the vegetables
Chop the onion, mince the garlic, and dice the carrots.

Cooking Prep

1
Prepare the peas
Drain and rinse the soaked peas.
Tip: Always stir occasionally to prevent the peas from sticking to the bottom.
2
Seasoning prep
Prepare the bay leaves and seasoning.
Tip: Using a smoked ham hock adds depth of flavor to the soup.
3
Get garnishes ready
Have garnishes ready for serving.

How to Make Hearty Finnish Hernekeitto with Smoked Ham

Total time: 4 h · Yields 6 servings

1
Simmering the Soup
Combine peas, water or stock, smoked ham, onion, garlic, carrots, and bay leaves in a large pot. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer.
2
Cooking the Soup
Cover the pot partially and simmer for about 2 to 2.5 hours, stirring occasionally until peas are tender.
3
Final Seasoning
Taste and season with salt and pepper as desired.