The Best Split Pea and Carrot Soup Recipe
The Best Split Pea and Carrot Soup Recipe with lots of veggies and fresh thyme. Easy to make and delicious every time! Soup season is when we eat creamy, healthy soups like split pea soup! In this recipe, split peas, carrots, celery, leeks, garlic, and fresh herbs are simmered to perfection. This gluten-free soup is very comforting and satisfying!
I live in Sonoma County, and the weather has been unseasonably cool for this time of year. Soup has been on my mind, and Split Pea is one of our favs! I tested this delicious Split Pea and Carrot Soup recipe several times, and this one was the winner. Full of simple plant based ingredients and comforting on a cold day. Traditional split pea soup has ham or a ham hock but we think this vegan version is just as yummy!
I recently discovered Living Herbs. The herbs are packaged in soil, which you can plant after use. This recipe uses a lot of Thyme, and the aroma is heavenly. I just got the soup on the stove and am writing this while I wait for it to cook. Although many people like ham in their soup, we don’t miss it. Split Pea soup is still so rich, creamy, and flavorful! It’s also nutrient-dense and very low-calorie.
What You’ll Love About This Soup
- It’s vegan and gluten-free
- Full of fresh herbs
- Healthy and Low Calorie
According to NutritionFacts.org:
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.
Ingredients
Simple ingredients are all available at your local grocery store.
- dry split peas
- creamer potatoes
- leeks or yellow onion
- garlic
- celery
- carrots
- fresh thyme
- oregano
- bay leaves
- sea salt and black pepper
- water, vegetable broth, or chicken broth
- olive oil
- fresh parsley for garnish
Ingredient Notes
- You can substitute yellow onions for the leeks or use both!
- You can also use vegetable stock or chicken broth for more depth of flavor.
- If gluten-free make sure the broth is gluten free.
- You can use Yukon gold potatoes or red potatoes in this recipe
How to Make Split Pea Carrot Soup Recipe Step by Step
Full instructions are in the recipe card below.
- Add 1-2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large Dutch oven or large pot and saute the garlic, leeks, celery, potatoes, and carrots for 3-4 minutes over medium heat.
- Add water, split peas, fresh herbs, and bay leaves to the soup pot.
- Simmer for approximately one hour. Peas will be broken down, and the veggies will be soft and tender.
- Turn off the heat and remove the Bay leaves and Thyme Stems, then add salt and additional pepper to taste.
- Blend with an immersion blender if you like smoother soup. Chunky or pureed, this soup is delightful!
Healthy Split Pea Soup Recipe Variations
- Add some additional carrots for more healthy goodness!
- Yukon Gold Potatoes add even more creaminess.
- Serve this flavorful soup topped with a spoonful of ricotta or creme fraiche. It’s lovely when swirled into the soup.
- You can make this with Yellow Split Peas, and it’s just as delicious!
- Add Vegetable broth or Chicken Broth instead of water
Storage
Store this delicious soup in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. It’s even better the next day!
Serving Tips
Serve this comforting soup with crusty bread, creme fraiche or grated parmesan cheese. You can also drizzle some flavorful extra virgin olive oil on the soup with garlic croutons.
Split peas are naturally gluten-free and rich in dietary fiber. They are also a source of minerals and vitamins.
According to the Journal of the American Dietetic Association, Consuming approximately ½ c dry beans or peas resulted in higher intakes of fiber, protein, folate, zinc, iron, and magnesium with lower intakes of saturated fat and total fat.
You can use this exact recipe for yellow split peas.
You can add a little water or broth to the soup if it is too thick to thin it.
Thanks for stopping by Delectable Food Life! I hope you enjoyed this Hearty Split Pea Soup recipe.
Our Favorite
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Vegan Split Pea Soup Recipe
The Best Split Pea and Carrot Soup Recipe with lots of veggies and fresh thyme. Easy to make and delicious every time! Soup season is when we eat creamy, healthy soups like split pea soup! In this recipe, split peas, carrots, celery, leeks, garlic, and fresh herbs are simmered to perfection.
- Prep Time: 10 Minutes
- Cook Time: One Hour
- Total Time: One Hour 10 Minutes
- Yield: 8 1x
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Mediterranean Diet
- Diet: Vegan
Ingredients
- 2 cups Split Peas
- 10 small Creamer Potatoes – quartered
- 2 large Leeks (white and tender light green parts only) – large dice
- 3 cloves Garlic – small dice
- 5 stalks of Celery -large dice
- 4 large Carrots – large dice
- Fresh Thyme (1/4 cup fresh on the stem)
- 1 Tablespoon dried Oregano
- 1 Bay Leaf
- 1/2 teaspoon Sea Salt (or more to taste)
- 1 teaspoon Cracked Black Pepper
- 8 cups of Water
- 2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
Instructions
- Add 1-2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large Dutch oven or large pot and saute the garlic, leeks, celery, potatoes, and carrots for 3-4 minutes over medium heat.
- Add water, split peas, fresh herbs, and bay leaves to the soup pot.
- Simmer for approximately one hour. Peas will be broken down, and the veggies will be soft and tender.
- Turn off the heat and remove the Bay leaves and Thyme Stems, then add salt and additional pepper to taste.
- Blend with an immersion blender if you like smoother soup. Chunky or pureed, this soup is delightful!
Notes
This soup keeps well in the freezer. Delicious for lunch or dinner. Serve with warm bread or crackers.
*make sure to remove the Bay Leaf and Thyme Stems before you puree the soup.
Loved it! Easy!