Vegetarian Split Pea Soup

Ingredients -

3/4 cup Uncooked Orzo Pasta
1 cup chopped White Onion
1 cup chopped Celery
1-1/2 cups chopped Carrots
2 Garlic Cloves, minced
1 tablespoon Olive Oil
1 quart Vegetable Broth
1 cup Dried Split Peas
1 teaspoon Dried Thyme
1/2 teaspoon Dried Chipotle Chile Pepper
Salt and Pepper, to taste

 
Preparation:

1. Cook orzo al dente. Drain.

2. Add olive oil to stockpot. Heat over medium heat.

3. Sauté chopped onion, chopped celery, chopped carrot, and minced garlic for 7 minutes.

4. Stir in vegetable broth, dried split peas, dried thyme, and dried chipotle pepper.

5. Cover and simmer over medium heat 90 minutes, or until split peas are tender.

6. Remove soup from heat.

7. Add soup in batches to blender. Puree until smooth.

8. Transfer from blender to serving bowl.

9. Stir in uncooked orzo. Serve hot.

 
 


Soup Making Tip
Dried Split Peas
Split peas are available in supermarkets. The peas do not require more than a few hours to soften to the soup like consistency.

Soup Making Tip
Carrots
Carrots are an excellent source of beta-carotene, an anti-oxidant.