Split Pea Soup
In need of soup to fend off the unreasonable chill of winter in NYC, I decided to take a shot at making split pea soup. It only requires a few ingredients and unlike other kinds of peas, split peas do not require soaking so its great for a quick meal.
1 pound of split peas
1 qt of low-sodium chicken broth or stock (vegetable stock would also work)
1 qt water
1/4 cup of seasoning mix (blended onions, scallion, garlic, cilantro, and chili peppers)
1/2 tbs garlic chili sauce
Adobo (or salt)
Black Pepper
Sour Cream (optional)
Cook time: About 45 minutes to 1 hour
First things first, put the peas in a soup pot and check them to make sure that there are no unsavory bits mixed in. Fill the pot with enough water to cover the peas and swish your hands through to give them a light rinse. Discard the water and place the pot on the stove.
Add the broth, water, chili sauce, and seasoning to the pot along with a bit of Adobo and black pepper. Tastes vary but take it easy with the Adobo and black pepper as the seasonings haven’t had a chance to blend as yet so the taste will be a bit off at this point.
Give the ingredients a quick stir before covering the pot and allowing the soup to simmer over medium heat.
Check the soup after about thirty minutes. Give the pot a stir and taste it to see if it needs a bit more salt or pepper and also check the tenderness of the split peas. Continue cooking the soup until the peas are tender.
Turn off the fire when the peas get to the point where they crumble easily. Working carefully (in batches if necessary), puree the soup in a blender or food processor until its smooth. Return the soup to the pot and give it a final taste for salt and pepper. (If needed, use salt at this point but not Adobo.)
You can serve the soup right away but after cooling it will keep fine in the fridge for a few days. However, the soup might thicken and liquid might pool at the top after it cools. No worries, simply use a spoon to reincorporate the liquid along bit a extra water if needed.
As an optional garnish you can serve the soup with a dollop of sour cream.
Tags: food, recipes