Hearty Meatless Split Pea Soup

Published on Thursday, February 18, 2010, by Caitlin McGrath / Edit Post

While many split pea soup recipes include smoked ham hocks for flavor, it's easy to make a vegetarian version that's just as satisfying.

Most hounds use a pretty standard base: green or yellow split peas, chopped onions, carrots, and celery, and water or vegetable broth, plus salt and pepper. Some use garlic, and herbs such as bay leaves or thyme for seasoning.

And then there's the special ingredients to deepen the soup's flavor. dmd_kc adds a spoonful of prepared mustard. "The mustard wakes up the earthiness of the split peas," he says, "and doesn't end up reading as mustardy." bear uses soy sauce at the end of cooking. If you want a bit of smoky flavor without meat, try adding smoked paprika, bacon salt, or a bit of liquid smoke.

odkaty thinks the split pea soup recipe in Deborah Madison's Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone is fabulous; it includes marjoram, paprika, bay leaves, thyme, and soy sauce. CindyJ's go-to recipe has parsnips, which add a nice sweetness, she says.

Discuss: Vegetarian split pea soup?

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  • vegetarian split pea soup doesn't need much. But cook the peas separate from the vegetables to ensure the right consistency. Garlic, carrots, onion, celery can be simmered in water til soft (plus any other light colored vegetable, even a potato). Once soft you can puree with a blender or put thru food mill. Stir in softened peas (do not turn them into glop!) and season with salt, pepper, a touch...+READ

    vegetarian split pea soup doesn't need much. But cook the peas separate from the vegetables to ensure the right consistency. Garlic, carrots, onion, celery can be simmered in water til soft (plus any other light colored vegetable, even a potato). Once soft you can puree with a blender or put thru food mill. Stir in softened peas (do not turn them into glop!) and season with salt, pepper, a touch of hot pepper or tabasco. Stir in some fresh chopped parsley if you like, and simmer for a few minutes. Serve with croutons or crusty bread.-COLLAPSE