Piquant Pea Soup
A hearty and flavorful pea soup with warming spices and a piquant kick, perfect for comforting dinners or as a nutritious starter for gatherings.
Ingredients
Instructions
- In a medium stock pot, sauté diced onion, carrot, turnip, and peeled potato in oil until vegetables are tender.
- Add dried yellow split peas, chicken broth, minced garlic, bay leaf, ground cumin, cayenne pepper, and dried sage to the pot.
- Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 2 hours until peas are well cooked and soup becomes a thick puree.
- Taste for seasoning and add salt if desired.
- Serve hot, and freeze any leftovers if needed.
Tips & Substitutions
For a creamier texture, blend a portion of the soup before serving. You can substitute yellow split peas with green split peas if necessary, but the cooking time may vary slightly. Adding a splash of lemon juice before serving can brighten the flavors. Consider enhancing the spice level by adjusting the cayenne pepper to your taste.
Serving Suggestions
Serve this hearty soup with crusty bread or a fresh salad for a complete meal. It pairs beautifully with Chicken Marvelous, making for a comforting dinner. You can also garnish each bowl with a drizzle of olive oil or a sprinkle of fresh herbs for added flavor and presentation.
Storage & Reheating
Allow the soup to cool completely before transferring it to an airtight container. It can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or frozen for up to 3 months. To reheat, simply thaw overnight in the fridge and warm on the stovetop over medium heat, adding a bit of broth or water to adjust the consistency if needed.
Nutrition & Diet Analysis (per serving)
Each serving of Piquant Pea Soup contains roughly 329 calories, with 11g protein, 59g carbohydrates, and 12g fat. It is an excellent source of vitamin A (169% of the Daily Value), iron (104% of the Daily Value), and dietary fiber (67% of the Daily Value). Note that it is relatively high in sodium, at 2247mg per serving (98% of the Daily Value).
Estimated from ingredients & per-serving nutrition — verify against package labels for allergies or strict diets.
* % Daily Values based on a 2,000 calorie diet (FDA 2020).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make this soup vegetarian?
Yes, you can easily make this soup vegetarian by substituting chicken broth with vegetable broth. This will maintain the flavor while keeping it suitable for a vegetarian diet. You might also consider adding additional vegetables or legumes for extra nutrition.
How can I adjust the spiciness of the soup?
You can control the spiciness by adjusting the amount of cayenne pepper used. Start with 1/2 teaspoon and taste the soup as it cooks, adding more if desired. If the soup becomes too spicy, adding a small amount of cream or yogurt can help mellow the heat.
Can I add other vegetables to the soup?
Absolutely! Feel free to incorporate other vegetables such as celery, spinach, or kale for added nutrition and flavor. Just be mindful of the cooking times; softer vegetables should be added later in the cooking process to prevent them from becoming mushy.
Nutrition is estimated from USDA FoodData Central ingredient data and may vary with brand, portion and preparation — see our methodology. This information is for general educational purposes only and is not medical or dietary advice (disclaimer).