Vegan Split Pea Soup Recipe (2024)

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Get ready to have your tastebuds go wild with this incredibly flavorful vegan split pea soup. Made up of ingredients like potatoes, carrots, leeks and seasoned with aromatic herbs and spices - it's certain to be a hit! Not only is the recipe plant-based, gluten-free and oil free, but you can make it in just about any pot that you've got handy: slow cooker, pressure cooker or traditional cooking pots will all do.

I'll show you a different cooking method. For those who miss the smoky flavor of bacon, don't worry -- we still made sure there was plenty here for whoever wants it! And best part? This vegetarian treat can easily be prepared on even the busiest days, making cold weather dinners cozy again.

Vegan Split Pea Soup Recipe (1)

I prefer to use the pressure cooker or slow cooker method. With this recipe, I would like to show you how to make this hearty soup and show you tips and tricks as well as substitution options.

Let's take a look at which ingredients are actually contained in the pea soup before I go into substitution options.

This soup pairs well with crusty bread like homemade bread, baguette, buckwheat bread.

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Jump to:
  • Ingredients
  • Instruction
  • Substitutions
  • Variations
  • Equipment
  • Serving Options
  • Storage
  • Tips
  • 📖 Recipe
Vegan Split Pea Soup Recipe (2)

Ingredients

This vegan pea soup consists of the following ingredients.

You can find the ingredients with quantities and the recipe to print out on the recipe card below.

  • Dry Green Split Peas or Yellow Split Peas
  • Celery Root
  • Carrots
  • Leeks
  • Yellow Onion
  • Potatoes
  • Marjoram
  • Parsley
  • Smoked Paprika Powder
  • Vegetable Broth
  • White Pepper or Black Pepper
  • Apple Cider Vinegar

Instruction

Stove Top Method

Finely dice the celery, carrots, and onions. Cut the leeks into slices.

Sauté the vegetables, celery root, carrots, onions and leeks in a sufficiently large soup pot on medium-high heat.

Add little water and add a little more when it starts to turn brown. Repeat until the onions are lightly brown in color.

In the meantime, dice 3 potatoes.

Add the split peas, veggie broth, diced potatoes, marjoram, chopped fresh parsley, white pepper, smoked paprika.

Let it cook on medium heat for about 1 hour. Keep stirring now and then.

Season the delicious split pea soup with apple cider vinegar, sea salt and pepper.

Pressure Cooker Method (Instant Pot Split Pea Soup)

Proceed as described above. Only the cooking time changes here. You can easier use a stove top pressure cooker or a electric pressure cooker like the instant pot or ninja foodi. If you are using a pressure cooker, let the soup boil under high pressure for about 30 minutes. Then release the pressure naturally for 10 minutes.

To do this, take the pressure cooker off the stove or leave the lid of the instant pot closed. After ten minutes, slowly release the remaining pressure until you can open the pressure cooker again.

Slow Cooker Method

Set the slow cooker to the highest setting and first sauté the onions, leeks and celery as described in the instructions.

Now add all the remaining ingredients and let it cook on low for about 8-10 hours on low setting. You can sauté the onions the evening before and throw everything into the slow cooker the next morning and your soup is ready in the evening.

You could also let the soup cook overnight, and then you'll have a great lunch without a lot of work.

Then season the split pea soup to your own taste buds.

Make this split pea soup, check out my lentil soup, sauerkraut soup, serbian white bean soup and my other vegan soup recipes.

Vegan Split Pea Soup Recipe (3)

Substitutions

  • Celeriac: If you don't have celery root at home, you can use celery. Here you can then use 2 celery stalks and dice them into small cubes.
  • Leeks: You can omit the leeks or replace it with onions. The leek gives the soup a special taste. If you can only buy the leek in bundles, I can recommend that you cut all leeks and freeze them. Then you always have leeks at hand.
  • Potatoes: I haven't tried it yet, but I can also imagine that pumpkin, butternut or Hakkaido, or sweet potatoes, taste good.
  • Apple Cider Vinegar: If you are not using vinegar, you can also use lemon juice or lime juice here. This gives the soup a great taste.
  • Smoked Paprika Powder: You can also add some liquid smoke to add a little more smoky flavor to this comforting soup.

Variations

This Recipe is a German Traditional Split Pea Soup, I love to add a twist to the soup.

  • Creamy: Add some Cashew Cream to make a creamy soup.
  • Dried Herbs: Experiment with different herbs, the whole family will enjoy it.
  • Umami: The soup is not umami enough for you, add soy sauce, coconut aminos to it. Just a little bit.
Vegan Split Pea Soup Recipe (4)

Serving Options

Basically, you don't have to serve anything with this hearty vegan soup. This pea soup is a complete meal. But if you want to serve something with it, I recommend the following.

  • Bread: You can serve the soup with bread, baguette, crispbread or flatbread or soft American Dinner rolls, for example.
  • Topping: Top the green split pea soup with crispy kale chips, crispy chickpeas, coconut bacon or homemade croutons.

Storage

  • How to refrigerate it? Leftovers of the pea soup can be kept in an airtight container in the refrigerator for about 5-6 days.
  • How to freeze it? This soup is great to freeze. Use freezer-safe containers and freeze in portions. The soup will last for about 2-3 months. I recommend freezing them in portions, so you can always thaw what you need.
  • How to reheat? Let the soup thaw in the refrigerator overnight, and heat it in a pot over medium heat. Or heat the soup in the microwave. And stir with both methods from time to time so that the soup becomes evenly hot.
  • Meal Prep: You can also prepare the soup in advance. It can be frozen and can be stored in the refrigerator. The vegan pea soup is suitable as a meal prep.
Vegan Split Pea Soup Recipe (5)

Tips

  • If you want the soup creamier, use a hand blender and roughly puree. You can also add smoked salt or smoked tofu to make it even smokier.
  • Prepare larger quantities and freeze some of them so that you can quickly have healthy food on hand, especially when things have to go quickly.
  • You can serve this vegan pea soup as a main course or as a starter.
Vegan Split Pea Soup Recipe (6)
Vegan Split Pea Soup Recipe (7)

📖 Recipe

Vegan Split Pea Soup Recipe (8)

Vegan Split Pea Soup

Yield: 6

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour

Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes

Make sure to try this amazing vegan split pea soup - it's packed with potatoes, carrots, leeks and celery cooked in a flavorful mix of herbs and spices! Perfect for those looking for a gluten-free plant based meal; plus it comes together quickly, so you can enjoy the deliciousness without spending hours prepping.

Ingredients

Instructions

Finely dice the celery, carrots, and onions. Cut the leeks into slices.

Fry the vegetables, celery root, carrots, onions and leeks in a sufficiently large saucepan.

Add some water and add a little more when it starts to turn brown. Repeat until the onions are lightly brown.

In the meantime, dice 3 potatoes.

Add the split peas, vegetable stock, diced potatoes, marjoram, chopped parsley, white pepper, smoked paprika.

Let it cook on medium heat for about 1 hour. Keep stirring now and then.

Season the pea soup with apple cider vinegar, sea salt and pepper.

Notes

Instant Pot and Slow Cooker Instruction in Post!

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Vegan Split Pea Soup Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is a good substitute for ham in split pea soup? ›

Ham Bone Substitutes:
  • Bone-in Picnic Shoulder or smoked ham shank.
  • Using a ham hock is the next best option.
  • Chopped salted pork and/or chopped smoked bacon can also be substituted.
Apr 18, 2022

How do you add flavor to a bland split pea soup? ›

Using onions, garlic, and fresh spices like thyme will add flavor to the soup. The real trick to making a bland pea soup extra tasty is using a bone or ham hock in the soup during the cooking process. Chicken broth will also add flavor to the soup.

Why is my pea soup not creamy? ›

The peas only need to be cooked until they are tender. But if you like a smoother, creamier texture, cook them longer until they soften and fall apart. If you like really silky soup, take the extra step of pureeing the peas once they have softened.

What is a vegetarian substitute for ham hocks? ›

For those adhering to a vegetarian or vegan diet, smoked paprika emerges as a potent and flavorful replacement for ham hocks. This versatile spice introduces a smoky undertone that can mimic the essence of traditional split pea soup.

What thickens split pea soup? ›

How to Thicken Split Pea Soup. The potato should make your split pea soup perfectly thick and creamy. However, if the soup is still too thin for your liking, you can thicken it up with full-fat cream (though it may alter the flavor a bit) or a cornstarch slurry.

What makes split pea soup taste better? ›

Yellow onion, celery, carrots and garlic – these vegetables built up the background flavors of the soup. They add some nice color too. Chicken broth and water – I like to use half chicken broth and half water (vs. all broth) so it doesn't overpower the delicate flavor of the peas.

How do you keep gas from split pea soup? ›

How do you make pea soup not gassy? Using Ayurvedic cooking methods, rinsing and soaking your peas before cooking, and eating them in a balanced meal help make pea soup not gassy.

How do you add depth of flavor to soup? ›

"If your broth is lacking in savory richness, try adding roasted onion, tomato paste, mushrooms, seaweed, soy sauce, or miso. These ingredients add umami flavor and depth to broth," she says. The choice of ingredient depends on the recipe, though.

What is the difference between split pea soup and pea soup? ›

A recipe for "pea soup" from 1905 is made with split peas, salt pork and cold roast beef. The soup is strained through a sieve to achieve the desired texture. "Split pea soup" is a slightly thinner soup with visible peas and pieces of ham, especially popular in the Northeast, the Midwest and the Pacific Northwest.

Why is my pea soup not getting soft? ›

If the peas are very old and dried out, they won't soften. And if the water you use for making the soup is hard with lots of dissolved minerals that can stop the peas from softening. Use bottled water if that is the case.

Should split pea soup be thin or thick? ›

The starches and the gelatin will form a mesh when cooling, so the consistency of the pea-soup will always be thick when cold. On heating, do what Mien advised: add some water or broth to the soup to the consistency that you want.

How much water do I need for 2 cups of split peas? ›

Bring about 1.5 cups of water or broth to a boil for every cup of lentils or split peas. Add the lentils, allow water to return to boiling, reduce heat, partially cover pan, and simmer for 30 to 45 minutes, depending on the variety.

Why does my split pea soup taste sour? ›

A lot of types of bacteria (and sometimes other microbes) produce waste products that can taste "sour." And soup/stock is a good growth medium for microbes, which is why most food safety organizations recommend only keeping soup for 3-4 days in the fridge.

What can I use instead of ham in soup? ›

You can easily substitute pork shank, smoked bacon, or smoked sausage without affecting your recipe too much. Not eating pork? Smoked turkey bacon should work just fine. Vegetarians may have a tougher time replicating the ham hock's rich flavor and the unctuous mouthfeel it gives to stewed dishes.

What is the best substitute for ham? ›

Instead of using ham or other processed meats on sandwiches, wraps and in salads try:
  • BBQ chicken with skin removed.
  • canned tuna or salmon.
  • boiled eggs.
  • hummus.
  • cheese.
  • leftover home-cooked meat such as slices of roast.
  • home cooked rissoles.
Mar 1, 2021

What is a good substitute for ham flavor? ›

For a smoky ham or bacon flavor, there is a liquid hickory smoke flavoring, or a smoked paprika. For a more general kind of meaty taste that can imitate chicken or pork, I like nutritional yeast flakes. Soy sauce and miso can help make something salty and a bit meaty. Mushrooms can also help with the meaty aftertaste.

What can I substitute for a ham bone in soup? ›

Ham Bone Substitutes
  • Smoked ham shanks or ham hocks are a great alternative and also add tremendous flavor. ...
  • Salted pork and/or a few strips of uncooked smoked bacon can also be substituted. ...
  • If you're unable to use a ham bone or any of the substitutes: Use 8 cups of chicken broth instead of 4.
Dec 22, 2021

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