Creamy Yellow Split Pea Soup with Turmeric

Creamy yellow split pea soup filled with plant-based protein and a boost of antioxidant-rich turmeric. An easy-to-make homemade comforting soup with a healthy vegan twist on a traditional recipe.

Jump to:

• Why you'll love this easy creamy split-pea soup
• Noteworthy ingredients
• How to make creamy yellow split pea soup
• Instant pot method
• Crockpot or slow cooker method
• Tips, tricks and variations for split pea soup
• FAQs
• Equipment
• Storage
• Recipe

Why you'll love this easy creamy split-pea soup

• Yellow split pea soup is easy and affordable to make.
• This hearty split pea soup can be made on the stove top, instant pot or crockpot (slow cooker).
• It's creamy, hearty, flavorful, filling, savory and healthy.
• This vegan soup is a great source of plant-based protein as well as high in nutrients like potassium, magnesium, vitamin A, fiber, and low in fat.
• Turmeric is an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory superfood!

If you like simple healthy soups, try my roasted butternut squash and cauliflower soup recipe and my spicy red lentil soup recipe. Or serve this cozy soup with side of crunchy kale salad with spicy peanut vinaigrette.

Noteworthy ingredients

• Yellow split peas: mild and mellow in flavor with a touch of sweetness. They don't need to be pre-soaked but benefit from a good rinse and pick-over for small stones or debris. You can easily substitute for green split peas which will give a more brown-green color to the soup.
• Olive oil: used to sauté the onions. Can be substituted with ghee or a neutral oil.
• Yellow onion and carrots: build a depth of flavor to the soup.
• Bay leaf: adds a sweet aroma and lightness of flavor to heavy and hearty soups, with hints of spearmint and menthol.
• Vegetable broth: adds nutrients and a balance of flavor. You can swap for water or use half broth and half water. Make sure to have some extra on the side as the soup can get quite thick and may need thinning.
• Turmeric: contains a powerful antioxidant called curcumin, which can potentially lower inflammation and boost brain power. It also enhances the vibrant yellow color of this healthy, simple soup.
• Black pepper: has an active ingredient called piperine which enhances the absorption of curcumin in the body; that's why it's always good practice to add black pepper to any dish that includes turmeric.

see recipe card for all ingredients and quantities

How to make creamy yellow split pea soup

Heat a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat, warm the olive oil. Add the onion and sauté, stirring often, until tender, about 10 minutes.

Add the carrots, bay leaf, split peas, vegetable broth, turmeric, salt and pepper. Raise the heat to high and bring to a boil. Reduce to low, cover pot and simmer, stirring occasionally, until split-peas are tender, about 45 minutes. Thin soup with additional broth or water as needed.

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When done, discard bay leaf and purée soup with an immersion blender, or in batches in a food processor or vented high-speed blender. Add warm broth as needed to thin.

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Serve with a garnish of cilantro or parsley, and a sprinkle of red pepper flakes for a pop of heat.

Hint: Soup may thicken while cooking or when puréeing. Use extra broth or water to thin soup as needed.

Instant pot method

Using the sauté setting, heat oil, add onions and sauté for 10 minutes or until softened. Press cancel. Add carrots, bay leaf, split peas, only 4 cups of vegetable broth (less liquid will evaporate using the instant pot), turmeric, salt and pepper. Stir.

Put on lid and seal. Set to pressure cook high for 15 minutes. It takes about 10 minutes to pressurize before cooking, and about 15 minutes to allow steam to release naturally after cooking.

When done, remove lid. Discard bay leaf and purée soup with an immersion blender, or in batches in a food processor or vented high-speed blender. Add warm broth to thin if needed.

Crockpot or slow cooker method

In a medium sized pan on the stovetop, heat oil, add onions and sauté for 10 minutes or until softened. (You can omit this step and place all ingredients in crockpot. The soup will result in a little less depth of flavor you get from sautéing onions).

Add onions, carrots, bay leaf, split peas, only 4 cups of vegetable broth (less liquid will evaporate using the slow cooker or crockpot), turmeric, salt and pepper to a 4-6 quart crockpot. Stir. Allow to cook on low for 7-8 hours.

When done, remove lid. Discard bay leaf and purée soup with an immersion blender, or in batches in a food processor or vented high-speed blender. Add warm broth to thin if needed.

Tips, tricks and variations for split pea soup

Creamy split pea soup is simple to make and can be made even easier with a few simple tips.

• No need to pre-soak split peas before cooking. Similar to lentils, just toss them in the pot and allow them to soak in all the brothy goodness as they soften.
• Split peas have an abundance of natural starch that will thicken the soup as it cooks. Keep some extra broth or water handy to thin the soup to your liking as it cooks or after it has been puréed.
• If your split-peas are old or stale, sometimes apparent by a faded yellow appearance to the peas, you may need to get some fresh split-peas. Older peas may not soften enough even after an hour or more of cooking.
• If you like your soup more textured, only blend a portion of the soup to add some thickness without making the soup too creamy.
• Don't forget to remove the bay leaf before puréeing into creamy goodness.
• Feel free to substitute green split peas if that's what you have on hand. It won't have a huge impact on taste but the soup will be more brown-green in color.

FAQs

Equipment

• Large soup pot or Dutch oven with lid
• Immersion blender, food processor or vented high-powered blender

Storage

This recipe can be made in advance and stored in an airtight container, preferably glass, for up to 3 days. It will thicken as it rests so you will need to thin the soup with broth or water when reheating.

Does split pea soup freeze well? The soup can be stored in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 3 months.

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