As soon as the temperatures get cooler outside, I crave hot, savory soups. I love soup, regardless of the type, and the thicker and creamier the soup the better. Vegan crockpot split pea soup, for example, is one of my favorites, because not only is it thick and creamy, it's loaded with veggies.
Even though many people don't like peas, split peas are different than fresh or frozen peas. Often compared to lentils, split peas come from plants specifically designed for drying peas and creating split peas. Despite their commonalities, split peans and lentils are different.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SPLIT PEAS AND LENTILS?
Split peas, a form of legume, somewhat like lentils, are yellow or green and harvested to be dried. When harvested, split peas are actually split in half, and that is why they are called split peas. Split peas, for instance, do not need to be soaked, because of being split in half. Unlike lentils, split peas become creamy when cooked through.
Similar to lentils, split peas are high in fiber, protein, and very low in fat. For that reason, eating split peas as well as lentils is highly recommended on a plant-based diet.
STOVETOP OR CROCKPOT...YOU DECIDE!
Despite my love for my crockpot, I decided to make my vegan split pea soup recipe on the stovetop. Since I made the soup on Sunday, while meal prepping, I didn't need to use my crockpot.
But, if you want to use your crockpot instead, it is just as easy as the stovetop version. The benefit of the crockpot, which I find quite appealing, is throwing everything in the base, turning it on, and walking away. Furthermore, you can actually put all the ingredients in the base of the crockpot, refrigerate it overnight, and simply turn it on before leaving for work. As a result, it isn't necessary to add the ingredients in the morning, since no one has time for that.
If you opt for the stovetop method as I did, it is just as simple. The only difference is a quick step by step process and stirring occasionally while the soup simmers. Either method makes a huge pot of soup to have for lunch, dinner, or pack up in containers for work.
VEGAN SPLIT PEA SOUP IS FULL OF A VARIETY OF VEGETABLES AND FLAVORS
Vegan split pea soup is hearty, but you can load it with your favorite vegetables to make it more nutritious with a rainbow of veggies in a single bowl. With six vegetables, this supreme split pea soup recipe will fill you up without any oil or anything added other than a plethora of veggies and organic vegetable broth. In fact, this soup is more like a stew!
Once cooked through the split peas become creamy and breakdown making a thick broth full of vegetables. Each bite heartier than the last, the more you eat, the happier you will feel.
If you're following a plant-based lifestyle, a variety of vegetables is a must, and this soup packs it all in one bowl. You can even hide those "not so favorite veggies" in the soup without any little ones knowing.
And, if you love soup as much as I do, try these thick and hearty soups:
- Hungarian Mushroom Soup
- Cauliflower Bisque Soup with Paprika and Chives
- Vegan Thai Curried Cauliflower Lentil Soup
- Skinny Cream of Tomato Soup
- Creamy White Bean Soup
- Vegan Clam Chowder Oh My!
Honestly, I could eat soup every day of my life. Soups on!
Vegan Split Pea Soup
Hearty, thick, and full of veggies, this soup is filling, delicious, and easy to make. Make it on the stovetop, or throw everything in the crockpot and walk out the door. Dinner will be waiting when you get home.
Ingredients
SOUP
- 8 cups organic vegetable broth
- 1 pound bag dried, split peas, rinsed
- 1 large onion, diced small
- 3 carrots, diced small
- 3 stalks celery, diced small
- 1 jalapeno, seeded and diced small
- 3 baking potatoes, diced small
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 teaspoons liquid smoke (I used hickory flavor)
- 1 Tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 Tablespoon onion powder
- 6 fresh thyme sprigs
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 2 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 bay leaf
Instructions
- Rinse and drain 1 pound of dried split peas
- In a large soup pot, saute onions and garlic until translucent
- Add a small amount of vegetable broth to prevent sticking
- Add all herbs and seasonings
- Add carrots, celery, and potatoes
- Add bay leaf
- Add split peas
- Pour vegetable broth over the top of all the ingredients
- Stir
- Bring to a boil and stir, then reduce heat to simmer, and simmer uncovered for 1 hour, stirring occasionally
- Split peas will breakdown and create a creamy broth
CROCKPOT INSTRUCTIONS
- Add all ingredients to the base of the crockpot and stir
- Cover and cook for 8 hours on LOW or 4 hours on HIGH
- Taste and adjust spices to taste
- Serve with a sprig of thyme on top
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Nutrition Information
Yield
10 servingsServing Size
1Amount Per Serving Calories 94Total Fat 0gSaturated Fat 0gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 0gCholesterol 0mgSodium 983mgCarbohydrates 20gFiber 4gSugar 4gProtein 4g
Nutrition facts may not be 100% accurate.
Hi! My name is Kathy, I am a retired high school English teacher & vegan enthusiast and blogger. My entire blog is fully plant-based vegan. I truly believe what we eat & how we live determines our health & the preservation of our planet! 🙂
Kae
Can I use lentils instead of split peas? Would I still add potatoes at the end if they are not frozen? Thanks!
Kathy Carmichael
Yes, you can use lentils instead; still rinse them. The potatoes will need to go in at the beginning with everything else if you are not using frozen ones.