Simple and easy Vegan Split Pea Soup is so flavorful and hearty, perfect for cold nights but can be enjoyed all year. It is so economical, green split peas, carrots. potatoes, onion, garlic, cooked in vegetable broth.

The only thing you want on dead cold days is a warm and snuggly blanket and a bowl of comforting, hearty, and warm soup. You might find hundreds of different soup recipes, but this vegan split pea soup is not an easy one to beat. I have three words for this soup. It is “heart-warming,” “comforting,” and “fulfilling.”

Split pea soup is a staple that my family enjoys all year round. You get to add lots of veggies with this comforting and hearty soup. When I’m stuck with what to prepare for dinner I love to make this recipe. I have even made my Instant Pot Split Pea Soup version and Yellow Split Pea Patties With Curry Sauce recipe.

Whether it is taking lunch to the office or looking for a quick dinner after a tiring day, you can make this soup without any effort at all. And if you want to make it a part of a fancy dinner date, serve it with your favorite vegan bread. It’s a pair made in heaven.

The highlight of this soup is not just the fact that it is super easy to make. It’s the flavor profile as well. You get a southern-inspired smoky flavor from this soup. It is rich, thick, hearty, and full of flavors from smoked paprika, cayenne, and dried herbs.

No need to soak the split peas, for this recipe, you can use green or yellow split peas or even a combination of both. I used green split peas this time.

Above all, you can make it a part of your dinner party menu as well. You can make it in large batches and feed hungry guests. Furthermore, you can also store it in the refrigerator ahead of the week.

Whether it’s a date night, Christmas dinner, or a simple friend’s get-together, you can serve it alongside a loaf of bread and impress everyone with your culinary skills.

Interested much? Here is everything you need to know about the vegan split pea soup recipe.

What is split pea soup?

Traditionally a split pea soup is made from peas especially dried split peas and pieces of ham. The soup has been made for ages, and its variation is found in different types of cuisines all around the world. Although the traditional version uses ham, it doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy it without meat. You can try the split pea soup vegan version, which is just as delicious as any other. You would love this comforting vegan soup during winters or the chilly season.

Benefits of vegan split pea soup

A vegan split pea soup is not just delicious, comforting, and heart-warming. It has several other benefits that make it stand out and a perfect treat for lunch or dinner. Here is everything you need to know about the benefits of a vegan split pea soup:

Vegan split pea soup is low in calories. Thus, if you are on a strict diet or planning to lose weight, it’s not just comforting but also gives you minimum calories for maximum intake.
It is also rich in minerals like potassium, manganese, zinc, etc. You also get vitamins like vitamin K and B1.
The soup is high in plant-based protein.
Believe it or not, split pea soup is high in dietary fiber. Dietary fiber works well in eliminating cholesterol from your body, thus improving your cardiovascular health.

How to store split pea soup?

Storing split pea soup is super easy. You can always prepare the soup ahead of time, and once it is cool, you can pour it in an airtight jar and store it in the refrigerator. Whether you are looking for a quick dinner or a weekly lunch plan, this recipe is a savior. You can enjoy it any time of the week without worries it will go bad. You can store it in an airtight container for as long as five days.

The best thing about this soup is that you can store it in the freezer as well. Write the name and date on the zipper bag or container and freeze it for as long as six months. Reheat when you feel like eating it and enjoy it any time of the day.

How To Make Split Pea Soup

To make a Vegetarian Split Pea Soup Recipe, I saute onion, garlic, celery in oil until the onion is soft. Stir in parsley, thyme, oregano, basil, and bay leaf, cook until fragrant. Add carrot, potatoes, split peas, vegetable broth, Bring to a boil, reduce heat to simmer for an hour. Add salt to taste and green onion.

How to thicken up vegan split peas soup

The best thing about this soup is that it thickens up with time. Unlike other soups, you don’t need to add any specific ingredient for thickening it up. The natural starch in the split pea works perfectly well to improve its consistency.

Furthermore, potatoes also are rich in natural starch. Therefore, they also play their part in thickening the soup up. If you think the soup is too thick for your liking, you can adjust its consistency by adding water to it. Because of its thickness, the soup goes perfectly well with vegan bread slices.

Tips and tricks for split pea soup

Making split pea soup is super easy. It doesn’t require extensive technique. You just saute the vegetables, just have to add everything in, and that’s it. However, here are a few tips and tricks that can help you get a delicious soup.

If you don’t have fresh thyme available, you can also use dried thyme as well.
The natural starch in split peas works perfectly well in thickening the soup up. However, if you think the consistency has gone too thick, you can always add a little water and bring it to a boil to get the consistency you require.
If you are looking for a smoother consistency in the soup without getting bites of vegetables, you can use a hand blender to make it creamier.

Ingredient breakdown

Split peas: Split peas are the heart of this soup. I use dried split peas. I sort them manually and rinse them to get rid of any impurities before putting them into the pot.

Vegetable broth: vegetable broth sets the base for the soup. If you don’t have vegetable broth, you can also use water along with vegetable bouillon for the purpose (my favorite).

Vegetables: I use vegetables like onions, celery, potatoes, garlic, and carrot for this soup. I chop them up before putting them into the pot.

Seasonings: to add the complexity of flavors in the soup, I use smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, bay leaf, thyme, oregano, and basil. The smoked paprika gives it a unique smoked flavor. The fresh or dried herbs give aroma as well as depth of flavor.

Nutritional yeast: nutritional yeast is an essential component of any vegan recipe. It is a type of inactive yeast that increases the nutritional value of the dish. Yeast flakes not just add nutritional benefits to the dish but also fulfill any nutritional or taste gap within the recipe. It has a nutty and interesting flavor that resembles cheese.

How to make split pea soup?

Making split pea soup is elementary and effortless. The only work you have to do is in prepping the vegetables. Just add the rest to the pot. Here are a few simple steps you need to follow to get the perfect and delicious split pea soup.

Firstly, sort and wash your split peas.
Prepare veggies and set them aside.
Heat oil in a large pot over medium heat, add onion, and saute until soft.
Add onion, celery, parsley, thyme, oregano, basil, smoked paprika, and bay leaf, cook until fragrant.
Add carrot, potatoes, split peas, vegetable broth. Cover pot, and bring to boil.
Reduce to a simmer for 45 minutes. Discard bay leaf and add salt and cayenne pepper to taste. Serve in a bowl with green onions to garnish.

Other Delicious Vegan Soups To Try

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