• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Recipe Index
  • Desserts
  • Appetizers
  • Low Carb
  • Breakfast
  • Main Entrees
  • Salads

Cooked by Julie

menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • About
  • Recipes
  • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Posted In: Cuban Recipes, Soups
    December 1, 2021 — by Julie — Leave a Comment

    Home » Cuban Recipes » Chicharos Cubanos

    Chicharos Cubanos

    Sharing is caring!

    60 shares
    • Share
    • Reddit
    • Yummly
    Jump to Recipe - Print Recipe

    These chicharos aka potaje de chicharos are Cuban-style split pea soup. Made with dried green split pleas, smoked pork, potatoes, and butternut squash.

    Enjoy this potaje de chicharos on its own or with fluffy white rice and bistec encebollado for the ultimate dinner!

    Chicharos Cubanos with white rice on the side on a white plate.

    Why You’ll Love This Recipe

    • You don’t need a pressure cooker and no need to soak the split peas prior to cooking.
    • Split peas have great nutritional benefits. They’re packed with fiber and protein, and are low in fat.
    • It’s similar to classic split pea soup with ham but with much more flavor!
    • It can be served as a soup or side dish.

    Ingredient Notes

    Split Peas – I recommend using green but yellow split peas works too. Green split peas are a bit sweet while yellow peas are more savory. However, both have a delicious creamy texture.

    Sofrito – A blend of vegetables and herbs. I used homemade but feel free to use store-bought or simply omit it.

    Smoked Pork – Feel free to use any type of smoked pork such as ham hocks, pork butt, leftover ham, or even sausage. I love adding a combination of ham and chorizo!

    Butternut Squash – You can use any type of squash such as pumpkin or kabocha squash.

    Ingredients for chicharos.

    Top Tips For The Ultimate Chicharos

    • If the chicharos get too thick, add more water or chicken stock to loosen it up. If it’s too liquidy, let it cook uncovered until it thickens.
    • To make it vegetarian simply omit the smoked ham and chorizo.
    • Add a pinch of sazon or adobo for extra flavor but keep in mind that if you add too much, it will lose that green bright color.
    • Arrange the dried beans on a baking sheet and sort through them. Make sure to discard any stones or broken beans.
    Potaje de chicharos in a large pot.

    Storage

    Place any leftovers in an air-tight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days. When you’re ready to serve, heat in a pot on the stovetop over medium heat and add more water. Add more salt if needed. You can also freeze it for up to 3 months. Allow the chicharos to cool completely and then place it in an air-tight container. Make sure to leave some space at the top because the soup will expand while it freezes.

    More Delicious Cuban Recipes You Might Enjoy

    • Cuban Shrimp Creole
    • Congri
    • Instant Pot Cuban Black Beans
    • Arroz con Pollo Cubano

    Tried this recipe? Please leave a star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating in the recipe card below and/or a review in the comments section further down the page. And consider following me on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest!

    chicharos Cubanos with white rice.

    Chicharos Cubanos

    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Course: Soup
    Cuisine: Cuban, Hispanic
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
    Total Time: 1 hour 40 minutes
    Servings: 6
    Calories: 453kcal
    Author: Julie Maestre
    These chicharos Cubanos are Cuban-style split pea soup. Made with dried green split pleas, smoked pork, potatoes, and butternut squash.

    Ingredients

    • 16 ounces green or yellow dried split peas rinsed
    • 8 cups water or m
    • 1/2 onion finely diced
    • 4 garlic cloves finely minced
    • 1 bay leaf
    • 1 tsp cumin
    • 1 tsp oregano
    • 1 tsp garlic powder
    • 1/4 cup sofrito
    • 1 potato cubed
    • 1 cup butternut squash cubed
    • 1/2 lb chorizo chopped into bite-sized pieces
    • 1/2 lb smoked ham chopped into bite-sized pieces
    • 1/2 tbsp dry white wine or vinegar
    • oil
    • salt and pepper to taste season generously

    Instructions

    • Arrange the dried beans on a baking sheet and sort through them. Make sure to discard any stones or broken beans. Rinse them and set them aside.
    • Add oil to a large pot along with the onions, chorizo, and ham. Cook for 3-4 minutes over medium-high heat while stirring frequently.
    • Stir in the fresh garlic and sofrito and cook for 30 seconds. Stir in the garlic powder, cumin, oregano, and bay leaf. Cook for 10 seconds.
    • Add the split peas, water, and dry white wine. Let it come to a boil, once it comes to a boil, reduce the heat to medium-low and cook for one hour uncovered while stirring occasionally.
    • After one hour, add the potatoes and butternut squash, cover, and cook for 25 minutes or until the potatoes and squash are tender. Add more water if needed.
    • Season generously with salt and pepper and enjoy!

    Notes

    Season generously with salt and pepper once it’s done cooking and add more water if it thickens too much.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 453kcal | Carbohydrates: 57g | Protein: 32g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 42mg | Sodium: 943mg | Potassium: 1113mg | Fiber: 21g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 2740IU | Vitamin C: 15mg | Calcium: 85mg | Iron: 5mg
    Tried this recipe?Mention @cookedbyjulie or tag #cookedbyjulie!

    Share this:

    • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
    • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)

    Filed Under: Cuban Recipes, Soups

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Hi, I'm Julie! I’m extremely fortunate to make a living doing what I truly love – creating and sharing my favorite “can’t live without” recipes with readers from all over the world.

    More about me →

    Holiday Recipes

    • Easter sugar cookie bars with jelly beans, milk, and peep candies on the side.
      Easter Sugar Cookie Bars
    • two slices of caramelized onion cornbread on a plate.
      Caramelized Onion Cornbread
    • Chocolate coquito in a martini glass up close.
      Chocolate Coquito
    • traditional rum balls on a plate.
      Traditional Rum Balls
    • crockpot candy clusters on a baking sheet up close.
      Crockpot Candy
    • mashed potatoes in the instant pot.
      Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes

    Popular

    • fried shrimp in a blue small bowl
      Southern Fried Shrimp
    • honey roasted turkey wings
      Honey Baked Turkey Wings
    • crab stuffed salmon fillets up close.
      Crab Stuffed Salmon
    • Creamy Garlic Salmon and Shrimp

    Like Us on Facebook

    Cooked by Julie
    Recipes

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact

    Copyright © 2021 Cooked by Julie

    60 shares
     

    Loading Comments...