A Simple & Healthy Split Pea Soup recipe for busy weeknights

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A Simple & Healthy Split Pea Soup recipe for busy weeknights

If you think a homemade split pea soup recipe takes too much effort – especially during a weeknight – it’s much simpler than you think. A batch of this A Simple & Healthy Split Pea Soup recipe for busy weeknights takes about 60 minutes. Most of that is simmer time, when you can be doing other things like cleaning up and setting the table with cute handled soup bowls.

Plus, the taste of this healthy split pea soup is so worth it, especially compared to canned soup, which can be full of sodium and other ingredients you may not want.

This easy split pea soup recipe came from a food blogger recipe challenge when I was assigned Grandma Loy’s Warming Split Pea Soup.  She based her easy recipe for split pea soup on one she found in Women’s Day magazine.

Looking for an easy healthy soup recipe? Click to get this Simple & Healthy Split Pea Soup recipe. Can be made vegetarian or add leftover ham.

Making a quick batch of Simple & Healthy Split Pea Soup

I changed up a few of the split pea soup ingredients used by Grandma Loy. First, I used homemade stock (and no additional water) and didn’t use bouillon cubes and water.

If you’re vegetarian or vegan, you can use a vegetable stock. Otherwise, store bought chicken stock will work. If you’re gluten free, check the label to make sure the stock you buy is gluten free.

I also sautéed and caramelized the onions to soften them up and add a little unique flavor for my Simple & Healthy Split Pea Soup recipe.

Simple & Healthy Split Pea Soup recipe

If you have ham on hand, you can turn this into a split ham and pea soup recipe. It’s a great way to use up leftover spiral cut ham during the Easter, Thanksgiving or Christmas holidays.

For a smooth soup, run your healthy split pea soup recipe through a high speed blender, a food processor, or use a hand blender directly in the 4-quart pot. (Using a hand blender is so much easier since you don’t have to transfer the soup to the blender and then back into the pot. If you don’t have an immersion blender, treat yourself to one.)

You may want to make a double batch of Simple & Healthy Split Pea Soup. Freeze in food storage containers to heat up on busy weeknights.

Freeze a batch of Simple Healthy Split Pea Soup recipe in Ziploc Containers - 19 Piece Variety Pack - Twist 'N Loc Bowls, Rectangles, SquaresZiploc Containers - 19 Piece Variety Pack - Twist 'N Loc Bowls, Rectangles, Squares

How to make homemade stock in your slow cooker

Grandma Loy used bullion cubes for her split pea soup recipe as a thrifty shortcut. I used homemade stock, which I find is even thriftier!

  1. After roasting a turkey, chicken, ham, or a pig (which we occasionally do at our backyard barbecues), take the carcass or bones and place them in your slow cooker.  Cover with water.
  2. Add some herbs to the water – thyme, oregano, sage, rosemary, etc. Dried or fresh will work.
  3. Add some crushed garlic cloves. Cut up an onion, a couple of carrots, parsnips, and some stocks of celery (whatever you have on hand), and add them all to the slow cooker.
  4. Cover and cook on low overnight or for 8 to 10 hours.
  5. Remove large pieces of bones and vegetables from the slow cooker and strain the liquid into food storage containers. Label with date and type of stock (turkey, chicken, etc.).
  6. If you want, you can pour stock into a couple of ice cube trays. Freeze and store cubes in Ziplock freezer bags to use when you just need a little stock in your cooking.
A Simple & Healthy Split Pea Soup recipe for busy weeknights

Split Pea Soup

Ingredients

  • 1 pound split peas
  • 6 cups stock (you can use chicken, ham or vegetable stock)
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 large red onion, chopped
  • 2 large garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves, chopped (or 1/2 teaspoon dried)
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground pepper
  • 3/4 teaspoon sea salt

Directions

  1. Pour peas on to a plate to check that there are no rocks or other foreign objects in with the peas.
  2. Heat olive oil in a 4-quart pot over medium high heat. Add onions, minced garlic, thyme, pepper and salt. Stirring frequently, sauté until onions soften, start to brown and caramelize.
  3. Add stock and peas. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, cover and simmer 60 minutes or until peas are soft. Stir occasionally.
  4. You can puree the soup in a blender, a food processor, or with a wand blender if you wish.
  5. Serve with gluten free bread and a nice side salad.
Prep Time: 15 Minutes
Cook Time: 1 Hour 10 Minutes
Total Time: 1 Hour 25 Minutes
Servings: Serves 6
  • Serving size: 1/6 of recipe

Originally posted on February 9, 2015. Updated with new pictures and information.

Learn how to make this Simple & Healthy Split Pea Soup recipe. Click to get this easy soup recipe that can be made in about an hour. Perfect for weeknights or make up a double batch to freeze and heat up in your slow cooker or Crock-Pot.
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22 thoughts on “A Simple & Healthy Split Pea Soup recipe for busy weeknights”

    1. Anne-Marie Nichols Post author

      The advantage of having the yearly pig roast is having the leftover bones to make stock from! It’s such a big animal that I have to freeze the bones and make the stock in batches. Inevitably, I find another bag of bones under a pile of frozen cheese or bread.

      Reply ↓
  6. Grandma Loy

    I am so glad that you and your hubby liked the soup. It is one of our favorites, and I make it often. I actually do keep homemade chicken broth in the freezer more now than when I posted the recipe. It is great that you included the directions to make it. Recently when I make this soup, I include some diced red pepper along with the carrot which makes are really pretty dish. I love your soup bowls, by the way. So cute. Will miss you in Secret Recipe Club, but I keep up with your posts via email. Have a great week.

    Reply ↓
  9. Marsha @ The Harried Cook

    I absolutely adore split pea soup and this sounds delicious! Your photography, as always, is incredible! I am so glad I got to cook from your blog before you decided to leave SRC. I look forward to continuing to cook from your blog because I have a lot of recipes bookmarked! Great post! :)

    Reply ↓
  10. Kate

    I love split pea soup! Your changes kick it up to the next level. Sorry to read that you are leaving the group. It has been nice cooking with you.

    Reply ↓

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