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This vegetarian split pea soup recipe has become a staple in my kitchen—and one both me and my husband genuinely crave. It’s rich, hearty, and proof that simple, plant-based ingredients can deliver serious flavor.
Perfect for weeknight dinners or easy meal prep, this cozy soup is one we keep coming back to. I hope it brings just as much comfort to your table as it does to ours.
Why This Recipe Rawks
First off, let’s talk about the magic of split peas. These little green gems are packed with plant-based protein, fiber, and essential vitamins and minerals that support digestion, heart health, and sustained energy. Plus, I love that they absorb flavors so well, making them the star in this vegetarian split pea soup recipe. There are plenty of reasons this soup is on repeat in my kitchen. Here are just a few others:
- There’s something so comforting about a warm bowl of soup. It reminds me of my childhood, huddled around the kitchen table eating my mom’s homemade split pea soup recipe. Now, I get to pass on that tradition to my family— yet without the ham bone.
- This soup makes fabulous leftovers. It freezes well and reheats nicely, making it perfect for meal prep. Plus, it’s loaded with antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties, which support overall wellness. So don’t be shy—make enough to have leftovers for another week!
- Kids love this soup! If you’re worried about them not eating their greens, just blend it up and they’ll never know those fiber-rich peas are hiding in there, helping to boost their immune system and keep their tummies happy.
Fun fact: peas are my least favorite vegetable. I can’t stand frozen peas or even fresh peas— I literally gag like a little kid. Yet split peas in this soup are something I happily chow down. So if you’re scared, don’t be.
Okay, let’s get the ingredients, start the stove and warm our bellies together!
Vegetarian Split Pea Soup Ingredients
This comforting vegetarian split pea soup recipe can be made with ingredients found at almost any grocery store. Here’s what I’m putting in the stock pot:
- Avocado oil: This high-heat oil is perfect for creating lovely sautéed vegetables. You can also use olive oil if you have that on hand.
- Leeks and yellow onion: These two work together to build a flavorful, balanced base. Leeks are a nutrient-rich, milder cousin to onions, and yellow onions add that buttery, mellow flavor I love in almost any savory dish. I use both so the onion flavor doesn’t overpower the soup. If leeks are new to you, here’s my guide on how to cut leeks to make prep easy.
- Carrots and celery: These staple soup ingredients enrich the stock. Carrots cut through the green produce and, combined with celery, they make an earthy flavor that is perfect for this vegetarian split pea soup recipe.
- Garlic cloves: Another way to add a flavor burst is through fresh garlic, and it doesn’t disappoint in this aromatic recipe.
- Dried green split peas: Split peas have 8g of protein per serving, making them a great plant-based protein option.
- Vegetable stock: Whether you buy some (look for vegetable broth) or learn how to make vegetable stock, use a version that contains only real, whole-food ingredients and is lower in sodium.
- Spices and Herbs: I’m not big on the smoky flavors, yet a dash of smoked paprika in this healthy split pea soup recipe brings it home without a ham bone. If you love more smoky flavor, add a dash of liquid smoke. Then adding thyme and bay leaves brings a lovely floral and thyme flavor to this vegetarian split pea soup recipe.
- Lemon Juice and whole grain mustard: these flavor-packed additions are thanks to rawkstar Meagan. Keep sharing your recipe reviews and tweaks in the comments— I’m reading them all!
Traditional vs Vegetarian Split Pea SOup
Traditional split pea soup recipe is made with meat broth and a ham bone (and sometimes bacon). My vegetarian version doesn’t use any of those yet is just as flavorful using fresh herbs, spices and sautéed veggies.
How to Make Vegetarian Split Pea Soup
This recipe is so simple! Grab a stock pot, set down the cutting board and let’s get chopping and cooking!
- Wash + chop up the veggies. Then sauté in oil in a large stock pot. Season with salt and pepper and cook until the vegetables are softened. Add the garlic and sauté for just under a minute longer, stirring constantly so the garlic doesn’t burn.
- Add the spices, stock and split peas. Cover the stock pot and reduce heat to low so that the soup can simmer for 1 hour. You know it’s done when the peas are soft and partially broken down, but not just mush.
- Remove bay leaves, stir in the lemon juice and mustard.
- Serve in bowls with paprika and green onions.
Storage Tips
This soup recipe stores well in the fridge for about a week, and it freezes beautifully. Just let it cool completely before transferring it to an airtight container (like Souper Cubes) for future lunches or quick dinners.
Easy Swaps and Add-Ins
You can customize this vegetarian split pea soup recipe any way you like. For an even more intense burst of flavor, try experimenting with some of these exciting variations.
- Swap split peas: If you can’t find split peas, substitute with green lentils. Both are great plant-based protein options and super hearty. You’ll want to gently boil them, or simmer, until tender in the soup.
- Swap leeks: Leeks can be swapped with shallots, which are similar in flavor (just stronger, so use a lot less).
- Add leftover veggies: Feel free to toss in any leftover veggies you have in the fridge—zucchini, bell peppers, or even kale can add extra nutrients and flavor.
- Add more spice: You can add your own spice combo to make this soup unique. I often add a little heat to my recipes, and some cayenne pepper is the perfect kick for this vegetarian split pea soup.
- Swap fresh herbs: While fresh herbs add more health benefits (and flavor), dried herbs are a great swap in a pinch.
Instant Pot Vegetarian Split Pea Soup
Need to make this soup quickly? Grab that instant pot and get chopping! Set the pot to sauté. Add in the avocado oil, and once heated, toss in the veggies. These will probably soften a bit faster, so check on them after 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Once sautéd, turn off the instant pot, remove the veggies, and deglaze the bottom of the pot with 1/2 cup of vegetable stock. Then add in the cooked vegetables, the rest of the stock and all the spices.
Pressure cook on high for 15 minutes. Follow the instant pot guide to manually release pressure, or allow for the pressure to naturally release in 15-20 minutes.
Common Questions
Split peas, the mature form of peas, are created by drying the peas, peeling them, and then splitting them, which increases the surface area of each pea. Because of this, split peas are unique in that they do not require pre-soaking and thus cook significantly faster than whole peas.
Common vegetables to add to split pea soup include carrots, celery, onions, and garlic for a flavorful base. You can also add leeks, potatoes, or spinach for extra texture and nutrients. These vegetables complement the creamy texture of split peas while adding depth and color to the soup.
Instead of using a ham bone or meat broth, use vegetable stock and spices like smoked paprika to mimic the flavor of pork in the soup. It does change the final taste a bit, yet it’s just as savory and comforting. These changes might just surprise you with how good vegetarian split pea soup tastes.
If your split pea soup tastes bland after cooking, try adding a splash of vinegar or lemon juice to brighten the flavor. Fresh herbs like parsley or thyme stirred in at the end can boost freshness, while a pinch of salt, smoked paprika, or nutritional yeast can enhance depth. For extra richness, try blending in a spoonful of miso or a drizzle of olive oil.
More Vegetarian Soup Recipes
If you know me, you know I love soup. It’s a great way to pack in lots of different veggies at once. It also fills the whole house with amazing smells. Here are a few more vegetarian soup recipes I’ve created that have been hits on my blog:
If you make this Vegetarian Split Pea Soup recipe, I’d love to hear how it turned out in the comment box below. Your feedback helps me and all the readers in this community. And if you’re interested in more plant-based recipes (and exclusive content), sign up for my weekly recipe newsletter.
Vegetarian Split Pea Soup
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp avocado oil
- 1 leek white and light green parts only, halved, washed well, and thinly sliced
- 1 yellow onion finely chopped
- 2 carrots peeled and cut into thin rounds
- 2 celery stalks thinly sliced
- 2 cloves garlic cloves minced
- ½ tsp sea salt, unrefined
- ½ tsp black pepper, ground ground
- 1 cup dried green split peas about 12 oz.
- 1 tbsp fresh thyme plus more for serving
- 2 bay leaves
- 4 cups vegetable stock
- 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 1 tbsp whole grain mustard
For Topping:
- smoked paprika
- 2 green onions
- fresh thyme
Instructions
- Sauté the leek, onion, carrot, and celery in 2 tbs avocado oil. Season with salt and pepper then stir occasionally, until the vegetables are softened, about 8 minutes. Add the garlic and sauté for 45 more seconds.
- Add fresh thyme, bay leaves, vegetable stock and green split peas. Cover and reduce heat to low for 1 hour (or until split peas are soft and partially broken down). Remove bay leaves before serving.
- Mix in the mustard and lemon juice. Serve with paprika, green onions, salt and pepper.
Equipment
- stove
Notes
- To make this onion-free, sub the yellow onion with another leek.
- This may make extra servings. To freeze, allow to cool completely. Store in freezer-safe containers and freeze.
- Dried thyme can be substituted in a pinch.
I made it a day in advance and added liquid smoke. It tasted quite good.
Thank you for another healthy and delicious soup to add to my vegetarian rotation. This 10-day challenge has opened my eyes and palate to the deliciousness of incorporating more vegetables into my diet. Our family has trended more towards a meat n potatoes diet and the purchase of a Vitamix a few weeks age and this challenge was just the perfect push needed to eat more vegetables in a most pleasing way. All the recipies were fantastic.
This soup was good. I love me some split pea. I didn’t even miss the ham bits in it! I used fresh thyme from my garden and homemade veggie stock once again. Next time I will need to add a bit more stock. My dried split peas soaked almost all of it up. It smelled so good while it was cooking, my mouth watered and my stomach was growling.
I love split pea soup. I’m so grateful for the instapot recipe.
I love split pea soup, but being vegan, most recipes are off-limits. This one sounds great! I might add some toasted tempeh cubes, marinated with some tamari and Liquid Smoke, to mimic the hambone/bacon flavors. Thank you for sharing!
Cooking this pea soup in my pressure cooker right now so I can take with me tonight for work. The weather here in Illinois is like Fall already. Ingredients are similar to the way I make my soup (with ham) so I look forward to tasting your vegetarian version. Trying to eat healthier in my old age. Thanks for your inspiring posts.
A hearty and delicious Vegetarian Pea Soup. My family thinks it’s good enough to be a staple. Highly recommend this soup.
Another great recipe!
Thanks so much for the simple recipe, easy to make and delicious too. All your smoothies feel so good in my body. Would definitely love to cook more and more healthy delicious meals. Thanks for organizing this challenge, which itself is a great reward for me and feeling so grateful to Jen, Vitamix and all other organizers. Stay blessed!
This was a winner – good enough to share with the neighbors! I am surprised it is so flavorful without using a hambone or bacon, as many other split pea recipes do. I added a parmesan rind to the soup as it simmered to give even more flavor. This is a good soup to freeze, too!
Split pea is one of my favorite soups and this recipe is perfect. Healthy, delicious and easy to prepare. I blended at the end for a slightly creamier texture.
Split pea has always been one of my favorite soups. And this version was delicious.
I loved all the recipes but 8 out of the 10 soup recipes, I will make again.
So glad they are all vegan and plant based.
Thank you.
Never tried a split pea soup before, great idea too add protein to a soup!
This was one of my favorites! Very flavorful and full of different textures. Yum!
This is a great soup on a cold winter’s day. My husband and kids are love ham in theirs so Iike you say I make a large pot and they can add what they like to theirs. Thank you for this great adventure in making delicious soups
This recipe was delicious! I served it with some crusted bread, and it was fabulous.