Description
This Vegan Split Pea Soup is a hearty, nourishing, and easy-to-make meal perfect for cozy days. Featuring green split peas, sweet potatoes, and aromatic vegetables, it offers a creamy texture that can be enjoyed chunky or blended smooth. The recipe uses a no-oil sauté method and a blend of spices, delivering a comforting, flavorful soup that’s packed with protein and fiber, making it an ideal plant-based option for a nutritious lunch or dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Vegetables
- 1 yellow onion, diced
- 1 large carrot, diced
- 2 ribs celery, diced
- 12 oz. sweet potato (or Yukon gold potato), peeled and diced
- 5-6 cloves garlic, minced
Spices & Seasonings
- 1 tsp. smoked paprika
- 1/2 tsp. dried oregano
- 1/4 tsp. salt (or more to taste)
Legumes & Liquids
- 1 lb. green split peas (about 2 heaping cups, rinsed and drained)
- 7 cups vegetable broth
Instructions
- Prepare Vegetables: Dice the onion, carrot, and celery. Peel and dice the sweet potato or Yukon gold potato to ensure even cooking.
- Sauté Aromatics: In a large stockpot over medium-high heat, sauté the diced onion, carrot, and celery for 7-8 minutes using 3 tablespoons of water or vegetable broth for a no-oil method. Add more liquid as needed to prevent sticking.
- Prepare Garlic: Meanwhile, mince the garlic cloves to release their flavor.
- Add Potatoes and Spices: Add the diced potatoes, minced garlic, smoked paprika, dried oregano, and salt to the pot. Stir well and sauté for an additional 1 minute to toast the spices.
- Add Liquids and Legumes: Pour in the vegetable broth. Rinse the split peas well, removing any debris, then add them to the pot.
- Cook Soup: Bring the soup to a boil, then reduce the heat. Cover and let the soup simmer gently for approximately 1 hour, stirring occasionally, until the split peas are tender and the soup thickens.
- Final Touches: Serve the soup as is for a chunkier texture or blend it using an immersion blender for a creamy consistency. Season with additional salt and pepper as desired.
Notes
- Split peas: 1 lb. dry split peas equals about 2 heaping cups.
- Blending: You can leave this soup chunky or blend it to creamy using an immersion blender. Blending in batches with a regular blender is also possible but use caution with hot liquids.
- Add Spice: To make the soup spicy, add chipotle or cayenne pepper to taste, or serve with hot sauce on the side.
- Recipe originally published February 2014 and updated in October 2023.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 medium bowl (approx. 1 1/2 cups)
- Calories: 319 kcal
- Sugar: 10 g
- Sodium: 300 mg
- Fat: 1 g
- Saturated Fat: 0.2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0.7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 60 g
- Fiber: 21 g
- Protein: 20 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
