Vegan Split Pea Soup Recipe

Sure, it's nice to put menus together (and doing so gives me so many ideas), but recipes are even better when I have them!  I have always loved split pea soup, and when I initially became vegetarian, I quickly came up with this version.  I can't imagine going the rest of my life without this warm, filling comfort food (that is very easy to make); fortunately, I won't have to!  I hope you enjoy it as well.

This article was originally published on Suite101.com.  To see the article in its entirety and its original state, click on this link:  Vegan Split Pea Soup Recipe

Vegan Split Pea Soup

Ingredients:

• 1 16-ounce package of green split peas
• 4 cups of water
• 2 14-ounce cans of vegetable broth*
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 1 medium carrot, diced
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper

Directions:

1. Rinse the split peas and remove any dirt or stones mixed in. Then, in a large pot or Dutch oven, combine split peas, water, vegetable broth, onion, and carrot. Heat pot to boiling. Then reduce heat to simmer and add salt and pepper. Cover loosely and simmer for one to two hours. Check and stir occasionally. Soup is done when the peas are soft.
2. This soup can be eaten as is, or it can be pureed for a creamy version. Also, for those people who prefer their soup in between, they can take a potato or bean masher and mash the soup until it reaches their preferred consistency. It can also be cooked longer for a thicker consistency.

Enjoy!

(Original article publication date:  November 9, 2009)
* I no longer buy canned vegetable broth but instead buy the kind found in boxes.  It's more environmentally friendly, and it's a great way to avoid BPA which is often found in the plastic used as a liner inside cans.