Yellow Split Pea Soup

Total Time

Prep: 20 min. Cook: 65 min.

Makes

8 servings

Updated: Jun. 27, 2023
This yellow split pea soup is an amazing new twist on the traditional soup. It tastes wonderful and has a sunny yellow color. —Lynn Jurss, Thousand Oaks, California
Yellow Split Pea Soup Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 large onion, coarsely chopped
  • 1 large celery rib with leaves, chopped
  • 6 cups chicken broth
  • 1 pound dried yellow split peas
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper
  • 2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley
  • 1/4 cup pistachios

Directions

  1. Heat butter and oil in a large saucepan over medium heat; add onion and celery. Cook and stir until tender, 3-5 minutes. Stir in broth; bring to a boil. Add peas; return to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer until peas are tender, about 1 hour.
  2. Stir in lemon juice, cumin and pepper; simmer for 5 minutes. Remove soup from heat; cool slightly. Process in batches in a blender until smooth. Return to pan; heat through. Garnish with parsley and pistachios.

Yellow Split Pea Soup Tips

Can you use green split peas instead of yellow split peas for this recipe?

Yes! There are no major differences between yellow and green split peas, so they can be prepared the same way (and will taste alike).

Should you soak the yellow split peas before cooking?

No soaking necessary! The peas will rehydrate and cook through during the hour it takes to simmer. To simplify things even more and maybe save a little time, you can easily process your soup using an immersion blender.

What other toppings can you put on yellow split pea soup?

A classic to pair with split pea soup is ham and crusty bread. You can either dice up some ham and fry it in a skillet with some bread crumbs to top your soup, or do the same with chopped bacon and chives. If you’re looking to add some protein and texture to your split pea soup, try this hearty split pea soup.

What can you serve with yellow split pea soup?

Hot ham and rolls pair nicely with split pea soup, as does a crisp salad. Try ham and Swiss sliders or top your soup with homemade croutons.

Sarah Tramonte, Taste of Home Associate Culinary Producer

Nutrition Facts

1 cup: 267 calories, 6g fat (1g saturated fat), 4mg cholesterol, 687mg sodium, 40g carbohydrate (7g sugars, 15g fiber), 15g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 3 starch, 2 lean meat, 1 fat.