Vegetarian Split Pea Soup with Barley

Tweet

The downside to being vegetarian and calorie conscious means there seem to be few choices that seem appealing when eating out at restaurants .It is not always possible to completely avoid eating out too.On one such occasion when I was dining in a restaurant,wanting to choose something that would least affect my diet I landed up choosing the split pea vegetarian soup and I was thoroughly surprised and delighted with this soup.

Since that restaurant visit I have been making this soup regularly at home.Over the years I have modified the recipe quite a lot and have played around with adding other dried beans on occasion, sometimes barley and other ingredients I consider healthy.This recipe is pretty good,very tasty and the way we like it the most.This soup is healthy and filling and can be served on its own or with some good bread of your choice.This may also be a good recipe to try and make in a crock pot, although I have never tried it that way.

Click here for a printable view of this recipe

Ingredients and Method to make the Split pea soup with Barley

1 cup dried green split pea lentils
3/4 cup quick cooking barley
1 red onion chopped finely
2 cups chopped carrots
3 celery ribs chopped into little pieces (yields about 1 1/2 cups)
1 tsp minced garlic
1/2 tsp paprika
1/2 tsp chili powder
1 tsp Italian seasoning
3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
salt to taste
2 cups of vegetarian vegetable stock( or water )
6 cups of water

Wash and drain the green peas.Then soak the green peas in just enough water to cover it for about twenty minutes

Heat the olive oil in a large pan,add the onions and saute until transparent.

Add the minced garlic and saute for a minute.Add the carrots,celery and saute for a minute.

Add the salt,paprika,the chili powder and saute for a minute.

Add the stock and water,then add the soaked green peas and the barley and simmer for about an hour or until peas and barley are soft and all the veggies are cooked.

Add the Italian seasoning and simmer for a few minutes.

Serve hot.Serves about 5

Notes:
When the green peas are sufficiently cooked they will dissolve slightly and the soup will begin to thicken

This is my entry to the Eat Healthy- protein rich event being hosted by Sangeeth