Description
A hearty and traditional Swedish Yellow Pea Soup that is both comforting and flavorful. Made with yellow split peas, vegetables, and optional ham, this soup is perfect for a cozy meal any day of the week.
Ingredients
Scale
Soup:
- 2 cups dried yellow split peas, rinsed and sorted
- 1 tablespoon butter or olive oil
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 medium carrot, diced
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon dried marjoram
- ½ teaspoon ground allspice
- 6 cups water or low-sodium vegetable or chicken broth
- 1 smoked ham hock or 8 ounces diced ham (optional)
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- Dijon mustard for serving
Instructions
- Saute Vegetables: In a large pot, melt the butter or heat the oil over medium heat. Add the onion, garlic, and carrot, and sauté for 5–6 minutes until softened.
- Add Seasoning: Stir in the thyme, marjoram, and allspice.
- Cook Soup: Add the rinsed yellow split peas, bay leaf, broth or water, and ham hock or diced ham if using. Simmer for 60–75 minutes until peas are soft.
- Finish Soup: Remove bay leaf and ham hock, shred meat from bone and return to pot. Season with salt and pepper. Serve with Dijon mustard.
Notes
- Traditionally served in Sweden on Thursdays with mustard and pancakes for dessert.
- For a vegetarian version, omit the ham and use vegetable broth.
- The soup will thicken as it cools—add more broth or water when reheating if needed.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Swedish
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 ½ cups
- Calories: 290
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 620mg
- Fat: 8g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 12g
- Protein: 18g
- Cholesterol: 25mg
