Description
This easy and hearty Vegan Split Pea Soup is a nutritious, comforting dish packed with protein-rich split peas and colorful vegetables. It’s simple to prepare, oil-free, and perfect for a wholesome meal. Whether served chunky or blended creamy, this soup delivers a satisfying and warming experience, enhanced by warming smoked paprika and aromatic herbs.
Ingredients
Scale
Vegetables
- 1 yellow onion
- 1 large carrot
- 2 ribs celery
- 12 oz. sweet potato (or Yukon gold potato)
- 5-6 cloves garlic
Spices & Seasoning
- 1 tsp. smoked paprika
- 1/2 tsp. dried oregano
- 1/4 tsp. salt (or more to taste)
Liquids & Legumes
- 7 cups vegetable broth
- 1 lb. green split peas (about 2 heaping cups dry)
Instructions
- Prepare vegetables: Dice the yellow onion, carrot, and celery. Peel and dice the sweet potato or Yukon gold potato into small cubes for 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 an oil-free method. Add more liquid as needed to prevent sticking.
- Add garlic and spices: Mince the garlic cloves and add them to the pot along with the diced potatoes, smoked paprika, dried oregano, and salt. Stir everything together and sauté for 1 minute to release flavors.
- Add broth and split peas: Pour in the 7 cups of vegetable broth. Rinse the split peas thoroughly, removing any debris, then add them to the pot.
- Simmer: Bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce the heat to low, cover the stockpot, and simmer gently for 1 hour, stirring occasionally, until the split peas are tender and the soup has thickened.
- Finish and serve: Serve the soup as is with chunky texture or use an immersion blender to blend partially or fully to desired creaminess. Season with additional salt and pepper to taste, and optionally add chipotle, cayenne pepper, or hot sauce for a spicy kick.
Notes
- Split peas: 1 lb. dry split peas is about 2 heaping cups.
- Blending: You can leave the soup chunky or blend it smooth using an immersion blender. If using a regular blender, blend in batches carefully as the soup is hot.
- Make it spicy by adding chipotle powder, cayenne pepper, or hot sauce before serving.
- Oil-free sautéing is achieved by using water or vegetable broth instead of oil.
- This recipe was originally published in February 2014 and updated in October 2023.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 medium bowl (approx. 1.5 cups)
- Calories: 319 kcal
- Sugar: 10 g
- Sodium: 450 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
