My mom makes the best Split Pea Soup and she is allowing me to share her recipe here for you all to recreate.
Are you ready for a nutritious, yet super easy and filling meal? Well, wait no longer.
First, from the site NutritionFacts.org, here are the nutritional benefits:
Split peas offer significant levels of protein, iron, zinc, and phosphorus. A diet rich in split peas and other legumes may help reduce cholesterol, hypertension, and the risk of prediabetes, and may also offer significant anti-inflammatory effects.
Split peas are high in phytates, which may be the most important variable governing the frequency of colon cancer, and may also have protective effects against osteoporosis. The safest form of iron (“non-heme iron”) is found in split peas, other legumes, and in several types of fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds. Split peas and other whole foods contain magnesium, which may favorably affect some metabolic and inflammatory disorders, including diabetes and heart disease. For more info on the benefits found in split peas, check out this!
Mom's Split Pea Soup
1pound package (2 Cups) of dried split peas
8 cups water
approximately ½ cup chopped onion
(optional: ½ cup chopped fresh mushrooms)
Seasonings/Spices: (Season to taste. She doesn't measure - I guess that's where I get it - but I will say it's LOADED with flavor, so be generous.) Himalayan salt*, Pepper, Garlic powder, Chili Powder, Paprika, Mustard powder, Ginger, Basil, Thyme, Celery spice, Rosemary, Cumin, whatever you want.
*DO NOT ADD THE SALT until AFTER the soup is cooked. If you add it to the water prior to cooking, the peas will not soften.
Add more water as needed
Cook until bubbles, then simmer for about an hour or until the peas soften to the point of making a thick soup. Then add salt and more seasoning to taste.
Can be stored as leftovers. It will be a "congealed texture" after being in the fridge. Just stir it up and add a little more water when reheating, if needed, as the peas will absorb the liquid over night.
It makes approximately 9 cups of soup. Filling and delicious.
A little goes a long way!
Seasoning is key, so don't hold back. This is very satisfying, very flavorful and very nutritious.
ENJOY!
