Greek Split Pea Soup Recipes

Steps:

• In 5-quart Dutch oven or stockpot, heat split peas, onions, celery and water to boiling. Reduce heat to low; cover and simmer 1 hour to 1 hour 10 minutes or until peas are tender.
• Puree pea mixture with immersion blender. (Or pour about 3 cups mixture into blender. Cover; blend until smooth. Pour into heatproof pitcher or bowl. Repeat with remaining mixture; return to Dutch oven.)
• Stir in bell peppers, pasta, parsley, oregano, salt and pepper. Cook over medium heat about 15 minutes, stirring frequently so pasta does not stick to pan, or until pasta is tender. Top individual servings with cheese and olives.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• For the soup: Heat the EVOO in a soup pot over medium heat. Add the onions and garlic. Season with salt and pepper and cook until tender, 8 to 10 minutes. Add the stock and peas, bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer and cook until just tender, 20 minutes. Remove half the soup and puree with the mint and parsley until smooth in a food processor or high powered blender. Return the puree to the pot, and stir in the lemon juice. Taste and adjust the salt and pepper. Cool and store for a make-ahead meal.
• For the flatbread: Arrange the flatbread on a wire rack over a baking sheet, spray with the olive oil on both sides and season with salt and oregano. Roast in the oven to toasted and crisp. Store at room temperature in an airtight container.
• Reheat the soup over medium heat. Serve the soup garnished with feta crumbles and a light sprinkle of cumin and paprika, a drizzle of EVOO and flatbread chips.

Steps:

• Place the split peas in a large pot, add water to cover by 4 inches and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and simmer, skimming often, for 5 minutes. Add the bay leaves and simmer for 40 minutes more, stirring occasionally and adding a little warm water as needed to keep the peas covered as they cook. Add 1 teaspoon of the salt and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes more, or until the peas are soft and almost dry.
• Puree the peas with a stick (immersion) blender, or transfer to a food processor and puree. Let the puree cool completely; it will thicken considerably.
• In a large mortar, grind the garlic with the remaining 1 teaspoon salt into a smooth paste. Add 2 cups or so of the puree and continue grinding to incorporate the garlic. Or use a blender or a small food processor.
• In a large bowl, combine the garlic mixture, the remaining pea puree, the oil, 3 tablespoons each vinegar and wine, the oregano and pepper to taste, stirring vigorously to incorporate. Taste and adjust the seasoning as necessary. Cover and refrigerate for at least 3 hours, or overnight.
• If the skordalia seems too thick, add a little vinegar, wine or water to thin. Spread on a large plate, sprinkle with oregano, garnish with toppings of your choice and serve.
• Note: Instead of yellow split peas, you can also make this with dried peeled fava beans or with the same amount of cooked mashed chickpeas or white beans, such as cannellini.

Steps:

• In a dutch oven or pot, heat olive oil over medium-high heat, add the onion, and sauté for 5 minutes. Add carrots, celery, and garlic, and sauté, stirring frequently, for 6-8 minutes. Add the split peas, and vegetable broth.
• Bring to a boil, cover, reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 1 hour, stirring occasionally. Let soup cool slightly.
• Using an immersion blender, carefully, as to not burn yourself, puree soup until desired consistency. You can also puree using a food/processor or blender, which may take two batches. Taste for seasoning, adding salt and pepper as needed. Soup will thicken upon standing.

Steps:

• Place split peas in a deep saucepan.
• Add cold water to cover peas by at least 2 inches.
• Bring to a boil over medium-high heat.
• Reduce heat to a simmer and cook gently 45 to 50 minutes, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon, until peas are soft and almost dry.
• (Add 1/4 cup water, if needed, to keep peas from sticking.)
• When peas are soft, stir in oregano and 1 teaspoons oil.
• Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Transfer to a wide, shallow dish.
• While split peas are cooking, make the sauce.
• Heat remaining oil in a medium non-stick skillet over medium-high heat.
• Sauté onion until golden, about 6 minutes.
• Stir in tomatoes, tomato paste, cinnamon, bay leaf and 1/4 cup water.
• Simmer until tomatoes break down, about 10 minutes.
• Remove bay leaf.
• Mix in vinegar and capers.
• Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Spread sauce evenly over cooked peas.
• Set aside to cool to room temperature.
• Serve, or cover and refrigerate for up to 24 hours.
• Bring to room temperature before serving.