Here’s a classic, comforting Pea Soup recipe 🍲—hearty, healthy, and packed with flavor:
Ingredients (serves 4–6)
- 2 cups dried split peas (green or yellow)
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2–3 carrots, peeled and diced
- 2–3 celery stalks, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 6 cups vegetable or chicken broth
- 1–2 bay leaves
- Salt & pepper, to taste
- Optional: 1 smoked ham hock or 1 cup diced ham (for extra flavor)
- Optional: 1 tsp thyme or parsley for garnish
Instructions
1. Prep the peas
- Rinse the split peas under cold water, picking out any debris.
- Soak the peas in water for 1–2 hours (or skip this step for quicker cooking).
2. Cook the soup
- In a large pot, sauté onions, carrots, celery, and garlic in a little oil over medium heat until softened (5–7 minutes).
- Add the soaked split peas (or dry if you skipped soaking) and broth.
- Toss in the bay leaves, thyme (if using), and ham hock or diced ham (if using).
- Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 45 minutes–1 hour until peas are tender and the soup is thickened. Stir occasionally.
3. Blend (optional)
- For a smooth, creamy soup, use an immersion blender to purée the soup. If you prefer a chunkier texture, skip this step.
4. Season & serve
- Remove the bay leaves and ham hock (if used).
- Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Garnish with fresh parsley or thyme if desired.
💡 Tips
- The ham hock adds a wonderful smoky flavor, but you can skip it if you want a vegetarian version.
- You can also add potatoes for extra heartiness.
- Split peas cook faster than regular dried beans, so you don’t need to soak them for long unless you prefer it.
I can also give a quick 30-minute pea soup version with just a few ingredients if you’re short on time.
Do you want me to do that?
