A Deliciously Tasty Vegetarian Split Pea Soup Recipe
If you are anything like us, you love to find dishes that sit perfectly at the intersection of comforting and healthy. This deliciously tasty vegetarian split pea soup recipe is sure to fit that bill. It is full-bodied, nutritious and sure to provide families on the go with a delightful meal option. There are plenty of vegetables to be found here as well. Whether you prefer smooth or chunky soups, we are here to help.
Best of all, there are even helpful shortcuts that will allow for faster prep and cooking. Did you know that the vegetables do not have to be chopped up by hand? In fact, you are more than welcome to use a food processor instead. It’s a simple shortcut that does not diminish the quality of this dish in any way, shape or form.
When it comes to a hearty soup like this one, there are a few things that you will need to know right off the bat. For starters, it will become thicker as you continue to cook it. The longer you allow this process to continue, the thicker the soup is going to be. We must warn you that the cooking time is a bit longer than you may expect but it is still very easy to make, even for at-home chefs that are not very hands-on.
All of the ingredients that you need can be found within an initial grocery store run. The end result of this deliciously tasty vegetarian split pea soup recipe can be served in a vegan setting, providing us with yet another valuable option in this regard.
Serving Tips
Before we get started on the actual recipe, there are some helpful serving tips that we are more than happy to offer. You will first have to decide if smooth or chunky is your preference. Some would rather have soft peas and veggies, while others will opt for the opposite. As for us, we like to strike a balance between the two, leaving bigger celery and carrot chunks in the soup.
If you are someone who likes pureed soup, an immersion blender or conventional blender will do the trick. Meanwhile, there are those who will have to cater to a group that includes vegetarians and non-vegetarians. This is easy enough, thanks to the following pointer. To enhance enjoyment of this meal for non-vegans or vegetarians, place some ham on the side for them to use. Smoky or spicy chopped cooked sausage works just as well.
This soup works very well as a standalone meal but there are other items that can be offered on the side. Biscuits, corn bread and croutons are all fantastic choices. Warm, crusty bread or a side salad are great offerings, too.
What’s The Best Cooking Method?
In our humble opinion, the stove-top cooking method is the best choice and it is the one that we are going to be discussing below. All of the methods are simple enough and the one that you choose may very well depend on the amount that you want to spend. The instant pot may be chosen by those who are looking to handle the cooking process quickly, as the soup can be done within 45 minutes to an hour.
Conversely, the stove top method will take a bit longer. At home chefs can expect to spend anywhere from 90 minutes to 2 hours cooking, while the slow cooker process (true to its name) is the slowest of all. If you choose this option, be prepared to spend 4 to 8 hours cooking.
Prep + Cook Time
For the following stove top method, the prep time is relatively short but the cook time may take a bit. Prep time can be taken care of within a mere 10 minutes, while cooking time will take about an hour and 45 minutes. The dish should be ready in a little under 2 hours, give or take a few minutes. If you have a food processor, it will be even easier to chop up the vegetables.
Ingredients
- Olive oil or vegetable oil (or half oil, half butter) (1 tablespoon)
- Sweet onion (1, medium to large)
- Large carrots, peeled (3)
- Celery ribs (3, scrubbed or 4 ribs)
- Garlic cloves (3, peeled)
- Vegetable broth (7 cups = 1.67 liters) (Use a 1 liter box of broth then add 710 ml of water)
- Green split peas (2 cups = 390 grams)
Optional Seasonings
There are no shortage of seasonings that can be added to the mix here but bear in mind that they are optional. We utilize all of these seasonings when we make this deliciously tasty vegetarian split pea soup recipe at home, in case readers are curious. They all serve as a great way to enhance the flavor of the recipe even further.
- Chopped fresh dill (1/3 cup or 16 grams)
- Bay leaves (1 or 2)
- Kosher salt (1 1/2 teaspoons or more, depending on personal taste, the saltiness of the broth will play a role in this decision)
- Black pepper (1/2 teaspoon)
- Fresh thyme (1/2 teaspoon, if dried, use 1 1/2 teaspoons)
Step by Step Cooking Instructions
Step 1:
This is when the vegetables are chopped. Take your carrots, celery and onion and dice them up. You will want to make sure that they are chopped into a small enough pieces. Half inch pieces are typically best in these instances. The garlic is also going to be minced before you take the time to move onto the next step.
Step 2:
Now, it is time to saute your veggies. It’s a key step because this is where a lot of the flavor is added. Heat your oil on medium heat in a sizable pot. From there, add your onions and saute for at least 3 minutes. Your garlic, carrots and celery are added now and the soup is sauteed for 4 to 5 minutes.
Step 3:
The peas, broth, water, dill and seasonings are now added to the pot. Bring the soup to a boil, reduce the heat, cover it up and allow it to simmer on medium low heat for 1.5 hours. You’ll know you can move on when the peas and veggies are soft. If the soup is overly watery, continue to cook it for 15 to 20 minutes with the pot partially covered or the lid completely off. The soup does thicken while standing, which bears noting. Remove the bay leaf and adjust the seasonings as needed.
Step 4:
Serve as is if you prefer a chunky soup. Those who would rather enjoy a creamier soup can blend theirs in a processor (in separate batches, of course), an immersion blender or a conventional one. There are also some who may prefer a half and half mix, where the soup has been blended and then combined with a chunkier half. Biscuits, croutons, corn bread or a warm, crusty loaf of bread can be served alongside the soup.
