Ella Walter
Split pea soup is a hearty, healthy, and comforting meal that is easy to make in a crockpot. It is a simple, tasty, and nutritious dish that can be made in large batches and frozen for later. The soup is packed with vegetables, herbs, and meat, and the crockpot allows for a largely hands-off cooking process. The split peas themselves are high in fibre and protein, and their small size means they melt into a thick slurry as they cook, creating a comforting texture.
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What You'll Learn
Split pea soup ingredients
Split pea soup is a hearty, comforting meal that's easy to make in a crockpot. The soup gets its signature colour, texture and flavour from split peas, which are high in fibre and protein.
The great thing about this soup is that you can use either yellow or green split peas, and you don't need to soak them beforehand unless you want to reduce the cooking time. If you do decide to soak them, simply cover the peas in cold water for at least four hours or overnight. Before cooking, rinse the peas and pick through them to remove any debris.
The traditional vegetables used in split pea soup are onions, carrots and celery, but you can also add potatoes, sweet potatoes, spinach, cauliflower, broccoli or peas. If you like your soup with a thicker consistency, try pureeing some of the cooked vegetables.
Meat is an optional extra, but diced ham, ham hocks, hambones or smoked turkey are all good choices. If you prefer sausage, try browning some diced smoked sausage in a skillet first, or go for shredded pork picnic (smoked pork shoulder).
To cook the soup, simply combine all your ingredients in the crockpot and let it simmer. For extra flavour, fry off the meat and vegetables in a skillet first. If you're using a bone, remember to leave all the meat on it and remove it once it's cooked so you can add it back to the soup.
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Soaking the peas
If you are cooking the split pea soup on high heat in the crockpot for only four hours, it is recommended to soak the peas overnight. This will ensure the peas are tender and have split to thicken the soup. If you are cooking the soup on low heat for 8-10 hours, there is no need to soak the peas, as they will have plenty of time to soften during the long cooking time.
If you are short on time, you can also make split pea soup on the stovetop without soaking the peas. Simply follow a stovetop recipe and add the peas directly to the pot without any pre-soaking.
Remember, split peas are merely dried peas that have been cut in half. They are high in fibre and protein and can be found in the grocery store next to the dried beans. Be sure to rinse them before use and check for any small pieces of debris.
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Slow cooking time
Slow cooking split pea soup is an easy, hands-off way to make a comforting meal. It's also a great way to make your house smell incredible!
The first step is to rinse your split peas and pick through them for any debris. If you're in a hurry, you can skip this step, but it's recommended to do it if you have the time. You can also soak the peas in water for at least four hours or overnight to reduce the cooking time.
Next, combine the peas with your other ingredients. Traditional ingredients include onions, carrots, and celery, but you can also add diced potatoes, sweet potatoes, or frozen veggies like spinach and broccoli. For meat, add a leftover hambone, ham hock, or cubes of ham. You can also try smoked turkey or sausage. Cover the ingredients with broth or stock by about half an inch, and add water if you need more liquid.
Finally, cover and cook on low heat for 6 to 10 hours, or until the peas are tender and the soup has thickened. If you're in a hurry, you can cook the soup on high heat for 4 to 5 hours. If you want a thicker soup, you can cook it with the lid off for about an hour.
Your slow-cooked split pea soup is now ready to serve! It can be paired with bread for dunking or grilled cheese sandwiches. It will also taste even better the next day, and it can be stored in the refrigerator for up to five days.
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Thickening the soup
Split pea soup cooked in a crockpot will naturally thicken on its own as the peas break down during cooking. However, if you want to further thicken your soup, there are several methods you can use.
Firstly, you can reduce the amount of liquid in your soup. This can be done by slightly reducing the amount of water or stock you add at the beginning of the cooking process. Alternatively, you can leave the lid off your crockpot for the last hour of cooking to allow some of the liquid to evaporate.
Secondly, you can blend a portion of the soup and then stir it back in. This will give the soup a smoother texture. You can use a regular blender or an immersion blender to do this. If using a regular blender, be sure to only fill it one-third of the way and cover the lid with a folded kitchen towel to prevent hot liquid from splattering.
Thirdly, you can add diced potatoes to the crockpot about 30 minutes before the end of the cooking time. The potatoes will break down and release their natural starches, making the soup creamier and heartier.
Finally, you can slightly mash the peas before serving to thicken the soup.
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Storing leftovers
Leftover split pea soup can be stored in the refrigerator for three to five days. It is recommended to store it in a covered container or an airtight container. The soup will thicken as it rests and cools, and if needed, it can be thinned with water.
Leftover split pea soup can also be frozen and will last for about three months in the freezer. It can be frozen in individual quart-sized bags or in gallon-sized bags with the date labelled on the outside. Alternatively, you can store it in airtight containers.
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Frequently asked questions
Split peas are easy to cook in a crock pot. Simply add your ingredients, such as split peas, chicken stock, ham, and vegetables, and let the crock pot do the work.
If you're cooking the split peas on high for 4 hours, it is recommended to soak the peas in water overnight. If you're slow cooking for more than 4 hours, there is no need to soak the peas.
Split pea soup is very versatile. You can add vegetables such as onions, carrots, celery, potatoes, and garlic. You can also add meat such as ham, bacon, or sausage.
