Indulge in the delightful flavors of Greek split pea soup, a comforting and nutritious dish that embodies the essence of Mediterranean cuisine. This traditional soup, also known as Fakes, is a symphony of simple yet aromatic ingredients, featuring split peas, fresh vegetables, and a touch of lemon that awakens the senses. Discover the authentic recipe that has been passed down through generations, along with delightful variations that cater to diverse dietary preferences and add a personal touch to this culinary masterpiece.
Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!
SPLIT PEA SOUP
This customizable recipe for classic split pea soup allows you to make it vegetarian or not with equally delicious results. Meat eaters can get that classic smoky flavor by adding bacon or ham hock, while vegetarians can reach for the smoked paprika. Half the split peas are added part way through cooking, which adds texture to each cozy, hearty spoonful.
Provided by Ali Slagle
Categories lunch, weekday, beans, soups and stews, vegetables, appetizer, main course, side dish
Time 2h20m
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- If using bacon: In a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat, cook the bacon until crisp, 12 to 13 minutes. Transfer the bacon to a plate lined with a paper towel. Once cool, crumble and set aside for garnish. If using ham hock: In a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat, heat the olive oil, then brown the ham hock until golden, about 6 minutes. If making the soup vegetarian: In a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat, heat the olive oil.
- Add the onion, leeks and garlic and season generously with salt and pepper. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 5 to 8 minutes. (If the vegetables seem dry, add a little olive oil.) Stir in the carrots, paprika (if using), half the split peas, thyme and 8 cups stock or water. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer, partly covered, stirring occasionally, for about 45 minutes until peas are tender.
- Mash the soup coarsely with a potato masher or give it a few quick blitzes with an immersion blender (watch out for the thyme sprigs). If you'd prefer a smoother soup, blitz until nearly smooth. Add the remaining 1/2 pound split peas and simmer about 1 hour, or until the peas are soft. If at any point the soup looks too thick, add more stock or water; if it looks too thin, remove the lid during the second simmer until it thickens. If using ham hocks, remove any meat from the bone, cut it into small cubes and stir into the soup. Season soup to taste with salt and pepper. Serve with crumbled bacon, if using, and lemon wedges.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 611, UnsaturatedFat 21 grams, Carbohydrate 53 grams, Fat 32 grams, Fiber 9 grams, Protein 29 grams, SaturatedFat 9 grams, Sodium 2129 milligrams, Sugar 21 grams, TransFat 0 grams
YELLOW SPLIT PEA SOUP WITH LEMON
This is another yellow split pea soup that I found on the internet. I haven't tried it yet, but I'm posting it for ZWT2. If someone converts this to a crock pot recipe, please let me know how you did it!
Provided by dicentra
Categories Lentil
Time 1h15m
Yield 6-8 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 15
Steps:
- Bring the peas, water, and bay leaf to a boil, then simmer until the peas are completely soft, about 45 minutes.
- Remove bay leaf, press peas through a sieve and return the puree to the soup pot.
- Melt butter and olive oil in a skillet over medium heat.
- Add onions and cook until soft. Add carrot, celery, garlic, salt, and ground cumin, and cook 10 minutes.
- Add the vegetables to the pea puree and simmer until they are soft. (Rinse out the skillet with a small amount of water, then add the water to the soup.) Add lemon peel and juice to taste.
- Check for salt and cumin and add more of each if desired.
- Finish with black pepper to taste and serve sprinkled with paprika and garnished with fresh herbs.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 295.5, Fat 7, SaturatedFat 2.9, Cholesterol 10.2, Sodium 255.1, Carbohydrate 43.9, Fiber 17.5, Sugar 6.9, Protein 16.7
HEARTY SPLIT PEA SOUP
For a different spin on traditional pea soup, try this split pea soup recipe with corned beef. The flavor is peppery rather than smoky, and a tasty change of pace. -Barbara Link, Alta Loma, California
Provided by Taste of Home
Time 1h45m
Yield 12 servings (3 quarts).
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- In a Dutch oven, combine all ingredients; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 1-1/4 to 1-1/2 hours or until peas and vegetables are tender.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 199 calories, Fat 2g fat (0 saturated fat), Cholesterol 11mg cholesterol, Sodium 352mg sodium, Carbohydrate 32g carbohydrate (0 sugars, Fiber 0 fiber), Protein 15g protein. Diabetic Exchanges
YELLOW SPLIT-PEA SOUP WITH LEMON
This recipe was posted in our local newspaper. Adding the spinach and lemon to the soup provided another special taste and flavor. As usual, pea soup is always better the following day.
Provided by William Uncle Bill
Categories Stocks
Time 1h55m
Yield 8 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- In a large cooking pot, heat olive oil on medium-high heat.
- Add onion and cook uncovered for 5 minutes, stirring often, until onion is softened and starting to brown.
- Reduce heat to medium and add carrots, celery, garlic, yellow split peas, chicken broth and cook uncovered for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally until carrots start to soften.
- Add bay leaf and bring to boil.
- Reduce heat to medium low, and simmer for about 1 1/2 hours or until peas are soft but not mushy.
- Discard bay leaf.
- Add spinach, heat and stir for about 1 to 2 minutes or until spinach is wilted.
- Add lemon juice and black pepper and stir well.
- Adjust seasonings to taste.
- Refrigerate any unused portions.
GREEK YELLOW SPLIT PEA PURéE
If you've ever been to Greece, you're probably familiar with the delicious yellow split pea puree called fava. It's served in tavernas all over the country and is standard fare on the Lenten table. It's important to cook the split peas for a very long time, slowly, until they disintegrate into a purée. Greeks use much more olive oil than this recipe calls for, and they top their fava with chopped onion, sometimes caramelized and mixed with fresh herbs. I prefer a drizzle of olive oil. Yellow split peas are easy to find in Mediterranean and Indian markets, as well as many supermarkets.
Provided by Martha Rose Shulman
Categories dips and spreads, appetizer
Time 2h45m
Yield Serves six to eight
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil over medium heat in a large, heavy saucepan, and add the onion. Cook, stirring, until tender, five to six minutes. Add the split peas and enough water to cover by an inch, and bring to a boil. Skim foam off the top, reduce the heat, cover and simmer one hour. Add salt to taste, and continue to simmer for 30 minutes to an hour until the beans fall apart and sink to the bottom of the pot. Stir often to prevent them from sticking. The water should cloud, and some of the split peas will be intact while others will disintegrate. Continue to simmer until they have mostly disintegrated.
- When the beans have fallen apart and are soft and fragrant, remove the pot from the heat and cover with a clean kitchen towel. Replace the lid and let sit for 20 minutes. If the mixture looks more like a soup than a purée, with most of the liquid on the top, place a strainer over a bowl and pour the mixture into the strainer. Let sit for 10 minutes while the liquid runs through the strainer, then return the split peas to the pot. Taste and adjust salt. Moisten as desired with the broth. Add a generous amount of pepper, and whisk in the remaining olive oil and the lemon juice. Whisking helps break down the split peas and contributes to a smooth texture. Transfer to a bowl or plate, top with a drizzle of olive oil and serve.
Tips:
- Soak the split peas: Soaking the split peas for at least 30 minutes (or up to overnight) helps to soften them and reduce their cooking time.
- Use a variety of vegetables: This recipe calls for carrots, celery, and onions, but you can also add other vegetables like potatoes, turnips, or parsnips.
- Season the soup well: Don't be afraid to add plenty of salt, pepper, and other seasonings to taste. You can also add a bay leaf or two for extra flavor.
- Simmer the soup until the vegetables are tender: This will take about 30-40 minutes. You can also use a slow cooker to cook the soup on low for 6-8 hours.
- Add the lemon juice and zest at the end: This will help to brighten the flavors of the soup and give it a refreshing citrusy taste.
- Serve the soup with a dollop of yogurt or sour cream: This is a traditional Greek way to serve split pea soup, and it adds a creamy richness to the soup.
Conclusion:
Greek split pea soup is a delicious and hearty soup that is perfect for a cold winter day. It is also a very affordable and easy-to-make soup, making it a great option for busy weeknights. With its combination of healthy ingredients and flavorful broth, this soup is sure to be a hit with your family and friends.
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