Description
Discover how to make a comforting bowl of old-fashioned split pea soup from scratch. This hearty recipe is perfect for cozy nights in.
Ingredients
- – 2 tablespoons (30 ml) vegetable oil
- – 1 medium onion, diced
- – 3 carrots, diced
- – 3 ribs of celery, diced
- – 2 garlic cloves, minced
- – 1 pound (450 g) dried split peas, rinsed
- – 1/2 teaspoon (3 ml) dried thyme
- – 1/2 teaspoon (3 ml) kosher salt
- – 1/2 teaspoon (3 ml) freshly ground black pepper
- – 1 bay leaf
- – 1 beef bone (see tips and alternatives above)
- – 4 cups (960 ml) low-sodium chicken broth
- – 3 to 4 cups (720 to 960 ml) water
- – 1 cup (150 g) diced beef (from beef bone or added separately)
- – finely chopped fresh parsley, for garnish
Instructions
- Warm the vegetable oil in a sizable pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Introduce the diced onion, carrots, and celery, and cook them for 3 to 4 minutes. Incorporate the minced garlic and continue to cook for an additional minute.
- Mix in the rinsed split peas, dried thyme, kosher salt, and freshly ground black pepper. Combine everything well.
- Add in the bay leaf, beef bone, low-sodium chicken broth, and 3 cups of water. Let it reach a boil, then lower the heat to maintain a gentle simmer. Cover the pot and cook for 50 to 60 minutes, stirring now and then, until the soup becomes thick and the peas have softened.
- With tongs, take out the beef bone to a cutting board, chop any remaining meat into small pieces (about 1 cup), and return the diced beef to the soup. Stir and let it cook uncovered for another 5 to 15 minutes, or until it reaches your desired thickness. If it appears too dense, pour in an extra cup of water. Keep in mind that the soup will thicken further as it cools, so avoid making it excessively thick at this point.
- Remove the bay leaf, serve the soup into bowls, and enhance with finely chopped fresh parsley and a sprinkle of black pepper.
Notes
- Consider using a beef bone with some meat for a richer flavor in the soup.
- Adjust soup thickness by adding more water as it may thicken when cooling.
- Customize by adding vegetables or seasonings to suit your taste. Garnish with fresh parsley for color and freshness.
