Homemade Pea Soup

I never truly understood why people call soup comforting until I had my grandmother’s chicken soup—and later, this pea soup. There’s something about its delicate seasoning and warmth that makes it feel like home, even though it wasn’t always part of my childhood.

For years, I’ve tried to perfect a homemade pea soup that strikes the right balance—not too thick or watery, not too smooth or chunky. With just a handful of ingredients and minimal effort, this recipe proves that simplicity can be incredibly satisfying.

At last, I’ve found the perfect formula: the right water-to-pea ratio, the subtle sweetness of carrots, and the key to letting everything soften naturally—no blending needed.

Homemade Pea Soup

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Serves: 10 Prep Time: 20 Minutes Cooking Time: 2 Hours 2 Hours

Nutrition facts: 200 calories 20 grams fat

Rating: 5.0/5

( 1 voted )

Ingredients

- 3 tbsp olive oil or butter
- 1 large onion or 2 medium onions, peeled
- 3 carrots, peeled
- 5 garlic cloves, peeled (or 5 confit garlic cloves)
- 1 bag (2.5 cups or 17.5 oz) dried split peas
- ½ tsp salt (option to add more)
- 1 tsp sweet paprika
- ½ tsp turmeric
- 2 tbsp chicken bouillon powder
- 64 fl oz (8 cups) water

Instructions

1. Finely chop the onions, carrots, and garlic into evenly sized small cubes—especially the carrots.
2. In a medium-large pot, heat the olive oil or butter and sauté the onions, garlic, and carrots until softened. This takes about 20 minutes, so be patient.
3. Add the split peas (no need to soak beforehand) and stir to combine.
4. Mix in the salt, paprika, turmeric, and chicken bouillon powder.
5. Pour in all the water and cook for at least 1.5 hours, or until the peas are soft, breaking down naturally to thicken the soup.
6. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. I intentionally listed only ½ tsp salt, as it's better to start with less and adjust to taste.

Notes

- If you have celery, finely chop two stalks and add them when sautéing the onions and carrots.
- If you prefer a thinner soup, add an extra cup of water. I personally like it thick.
- Keep in mind that the soup thickens even more as it cools.

Homemade Pea Soup