Another wonderful recipe! This one came from MarciaB of Happy Trails to Us. I jumped ahead on the souping schedule and made this one on Inauguration Day which was also a Snow Day here in the Tar Heel state. I love being snowed in, probably because it doesn't happen very often, and this soup was perfect for a cold and white winter day.
It's the best split pea soup I've ever had - so easy and delicious, and the green peas and herbs really add a lot of flavor. Recipe and my modifications are below.
Split Pea and Green Pea Soup with Fresh Dill
Makes 4-6 first-course servings
3 Tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 large leek (white and pale green parts only), chopped (about 1 and 1/2 cups)
1 bay leaf
1 cup green split peas, rinsed
5&1/2 cups vegetable broth, divided (can use chicken broth, too, or a ham bone for seasoning).
1 cup frozen petite green peas, thawed
4 Tablespoons chopped fresh dill, divided
Salt
Pepper
Shredded Parmesan for garnish
Preparation
Heat oil in heavy large pot over medium high heat. Add leak and bay leaf. Saute until leek wilts, about three minutes. Add split peas and stir to coat. Add 5 cups broth; bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low. Cover and simmer until split peas are just tender, about 35 minutes. Remove from heat. Transfer 1 cup soup solids, bay leaf and remaining 1/2 cup broth to blender. Add petite peas and 3 Tablespoons dill. Puree until smooth. Return puree to soup. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Ladle into bowls. Sprinkle with remaining 1 Tablespoon dill and shredded Parmesan for garnish.
(If you like the idea of whole green peas in your soup, then only puree half of the petite green peas, and add the other half to the soup whole).
My Notes:
I used chicken broth. No ham bone for me but I threw a Reggiano rind in while the split peas were cooking.
I used shallots instead of leeks.
Because I was snowed in, I couldn't go to the store for fresh dill so I used dried dill and fresh parsley instead.
I left some of the green peas whole.
Great soup!
Comments (10)
Yum - that is one of my favorite soups. Love it!
Posted by Leslie | January 25, 2009 11:36 PM
Posted on January 25, 2009 23:36
Hi Annie, your soup looks very delicious and I'm sure it was even more so on a cold snowy day! I love the pretty seashell in the background. Your snow photo looks very cool! It definitely doesn't snow in LA, but when I lived in eastern Washington (the "Cougars" playgound), I enjoyed when it snowed there.
Have a great week!
Posted by Kathy (Trekcapri) | January 25, 2009 11:52 PM
Posted on January 25, 2009 23:52
I haven't had a good bowl of pea soup for a very long time. Love this recipe. Sounds easy to make. The photo of your soup looks yummy!!
Posted by girasoli | January 26, 2009 4:27 AM
Posted on January 26, 2009 04:27
I love split pea soup! This recipe sounds so easy that I'll be making it this week. I'm looking for easy and quick recipes for the next four weeks.
Nice photos; I guess the birdies have gone south ...
Posted by Maria I. | January 26, 2009 10:17 AM
Posted on January 26, 2009 10:17
Thanks everyone, it really is a great recipe and couldn't be easier.
Maria, the birdies were on the other side of the house eating sunflower seeds in the feeders while Maria the kitten sat in the window and chirped at them. :)
Posted by Annie | January 26, 2009 10:26 AM
Posted on January 26, 2009 10:26
Sounds tastissimo, I'll have to try it!
Posted by Chiocciola | January 26, 2009 9:25 PM
Posted on January 26, 2009 21:25
Hi Annie, I enjoy your Maria stories. :) And I'll add "chirping" at the birds dining on sunflower seeds as another good one.
Posted by Kathy (Trekcapri) | January 27, 2009 8:54 AM
Posted on January 27, 2009 08:54
Kathy, I wish you could hear her. It's hilarious. She really does sound more like a bird than a cat! And she's so talkative. She's been spending a lot of time in the window watching the birds and the squirrels lately (cat TV!).
Posted by Annie | January 27, 2009 10:28 AM
Posted on January 27, 2009 10:28
That'll teach me not to copy a recipe. I was in Foodland today (grocery store) and thought about making pea soup but didn't have the recipe with me. It has been cold here again (cold for us) and pea soup would have been a great dinner.
Posted by girasoli | January 27, 2009 10:53 PM
Posted on January 27, 2009 22:53
Gute Arbeit hier! Gute Inhalte.
Posted by fussball | March 3, 2009 5:23 PM
Posted on March 3, 2009 17:23