Vegetarian Split Pea Soup

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 large onion, (finely chopped)
• 1 cup celery, (finely chopped)
• 2 cups carrots, (chopped)
• 2 cups dried yellow split peas, (washed and rinsed)
• 3 cups potatoes, (peeled and diced)
• 2 cloves garlic, (minced)
• 4 cups vegetable stock
• 4 cups water
• 3 whole bay leaves
• 1 teaspoon turmeric
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

Instructions

1. 1

   In a stock pot, over medium heat, add the olive oil, onions, carrot, and celery. Sauté for 5 minutes.

2. 2

   Add the garlic and sauté for 2 more minutes.

3. 3

   Add the split peas and turmeric, stir into the vegetable mixture, and sauté for 3 minutes.

4. 4

   Add the vegetable stock and water, along with the salt, pepper, and bay leaves. Stir to combine. Cover and cook for 40 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent the split peas from settling to the bottom of the pot.

5. 5

   Add the potatoes and stir to combine. Cover and continue to cook for 10 minutes.

6. 6

   Stir the soup and check the liquid level. At this point, the potatoes should be starting to soften, and the peas should be nearly dissolved. Add one cup of water if the peas are not nearly dissolved.

7. 7

   Cover and continue to cook for another 10 minutes. Check the potatoes for doneness again. Add another cup of water if needed. If not, cover and continue to cook until the potatoes are fork tender.

8. 8

   Once the potatoes are cooked, remove the lid and turn off the heat. Stir the soup well, and allow to sit for 5 minutes before serving.