Once upon a cold winter’s day there was a dried little green pea. It wanted so badly to be part of something bigger. So it asked a whole bunch of his friends to join him on a journey. Together they went through a very quick but effective trip where they expanded their horizons and joined forces with other friends (carrots, onions, celery and spices). They decided that in order to transform, they needed to stick together in one cohesive space that would meld and bring them all together. But they couldn’t do it alone – they needed a leader – so the called the “great white” (cauliflower) in to the mix and the green little pea had a natural affinity immediately. All stir up and warmed together – they blended flavours, textures and what came out – only 45 minutes later was a gorgeously thick, creamy, light-green soup.
The end!
That’s the story, here are the Cliff notes…
Peas are wonderful for a cold winters’ day soup. There is both green and yellow choose from. Both lend themselves well – it just depends on your mood I suppose. Green peas have a very distinct flavour and they go so nicely with fresh and dried herbs. The benefit of using dried split peas, is that they don’t need to be soaked like other legumes and beans. They simple can cook directly in your soup pot. They need a good hour or so, but they will breakdown and will blend nicely into your soup.
Ever thought of thickening up your soup with cauliflower? Well this is what happened here. Cauliflower can replace potato, flour or any other thickener that would typically be called for or used in a soup. Sometimes it is just that simple to think outside the “potato starch” box. Cut up your cauliflower into little florets they make the perfect addition to any soup that you are going to blend up or puree. They add a healthy dose of fiber, antioxidants and vitamin C (see more benefits of cauliflower). Just because it is white – doesn’t mean it lacks nutrients! So make use out of this lovely veggie. It is also a great substitute for mashed potatoes!
So there you have it, the world’s simplest soup. Well not really, but it is pretty easy, all in one pot, warmed, pureed and served!
Just toss in a bit of savoury herbs like thyme, rosemary and oregano, dash of salt and pepper…
Split Pea Soup
What’s in it?
2 ½ cups green or yellow split peas
1 large onion, peeled and chopped
3 carrots, peeled and chopped
1 head of cauliflower, cut into small florets or try 1-2 small sweet potatoes if using yellow peas (to thicken and sweeten)
2 celery stalks, chopped
Pinch of rosemary
Pinch of thyme
Fresh oregano
Pinch of sea salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1 large bunch of greens, chopped (kale, spinach or chard)
How it’s made!
- In a large soup pot, put 6 cups of water and bring to a boil over high heat. Add the split peas, onion, carrots, cauliflower, celery and herbs. Stir and bring to a boil again.
- Reduce the heat and simmer, uncovered, until the peas and vegetables are tender, about an hour. If you prefer a creamy soup, transfer half the mixture to a blender and blend until smooth. Return it to the soup pot and mix well to combine.
- Stir in your chopped greens into the warm soup and allow them to soften in the pot.
- Season to taste with salt and pepper and serve immediately.
