This Dutch Split Pea Soup is loaded with heartwarming flavors of bacon, Polish kielbasa, and vegetables. It's a traditional Dutch soup that's perfect for a cozy dinner.
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Why This Recipe Stands Out
If you want a soup recipe that's comforting, hearty, and packed with flavor, then our Dutch Split Pea Soup is just what you need. Here's why this recipe works:
- Quality Ingredients: This recipe uses simple, quality ingredients that are easy to find, just like this Ukrainian Mushroom Soup.
- Easy to Make: The simple procedure makes it one of the easiest soup recipes, which is perfect for beginners.
- Perfect for Parties: It's a great option for a soup party, and you can easily double the batch for a larger crowd.
- Great for Meal Prep: This soup tastes even better the next day, so it's perfect for meal prep. Another great easy option is our Broccoli Veggie Soup.
Key Ingredients
- Pork Chop – The bone-in pork chop adds a rich, meaty flavor to the soup, making it more hearty and satisfying.
- Celery, Celeriac, and Leek – These aromatic vegetables add a depth of flavor to the soup, enhancing the overall savory profile.
- Polish Kielbasa – The smoked sausage contributes a robust, smoky flavor that sets this split pea soup apart from the rest.
Substitutions and Variations
This Dutch Split Pea Soup recipe is a classic, but that doesn't mean you can't add your own twist to it. Here are a few ideas to spice it up:
- Meat: This recipe calls for a bacon slice and a pork chop. You can substitute the pork chop with a ham hock or some smoked turkey wings. The bacon can be replaced with pancetta or smoked sausage.
- Vegetables: Feel free to add more vegetables like bell peppers, green beans, or even some tomatoes. If you want to make it heartier, try adding some kale like we do in this Hearty Lentil Soup.
- Herbs: We love the flavor of the bay leaves in this soup, but feel free to experiment with other herbs. Thyme, rosemary, or a dash of smoked paprika could all be great additions.
- Spices: This soup is quite mild, but you can always spice it up with some red pepper flakes or a dash of hot sauce.
- Garnish: This soup is traditionally garnished with chopped parsley, but you can also use dill or chives for a different flavor profile.
How to Make Dutch Split Pea Soup
Step 1: Boil water, peas, bay leaf, bacon, and pork chop in a large pot.
Step 2: Remove foam, reduce heat, and cook for 50 minutes.
Step 3: Remove pork chop, add potatoes, onion, celery, celeriac, carrot, leek, salt, and pepper.
Step 4: Cook for 50 minutes until peas are tender and soup thickens.
Step 5: Shred pork chop, discard bone, and add meat with Kielbasa to soup. Cook for 10 more minutes.
Step 6: Adjust seasoning, serve hot, and garnish with parsley.
For full list of ingredients and instructions, see recipe card below.
What to Serve with Dutch Split Pea Soup (Snert)
Vegetables
- A fresh, crunchy salad is a great way to start your meal. Try a simple green salad or a chopped vegetable salad.
- If you want to incorporate more veggies into your meal, consider serving a side of roasted Brussels sprouts or sautéed green beans.
Potatoes
- Potatoes are a classic side for split pea soup. We love serving this soup with a side of crispy potato wedges or a batch of fluffy mashed potatoes.
- You can also try making some homemade potato rolls to serve with your soup.
Crusty Bread
- A loaf of crusty bread is perfect for dipping into your split pea soup. Try a classic French baguette or a hearty whole grain bread.
- If you have some extra time, you can even make your own homemade bread to serve with the soup.
Sandwiches
- If you want to make a more substantial meal, consider serving split pea soup with a sandwich on the side. A classic grilled cheese or a chickpea salad sandwich, both pair well with this comforting soup.
- You can also try making a batch of homemade croutons to sprinkle on top of your soup.
Rice and Grains
- For a heartier meal, you can serve split pea soup with a side of rice or grains. We recommend trying it with some cooked quinoa or a batch of fluffy white rice.
Frequently Asked Questions
You should use dried split peas for this recipe. Look for them in the dried goods section of your grocery store.
Yes, you can make this soup vegetarian by omitting the bacon and pork chop, and using vegetable broth instead of water. You can also add in some extra vegetables or vegetarian sausage for added flavor.
Celeriac, also known as celery root, is a type of root vegetable. It has a mild, celery-like flavor and is delicious in soups and stews. You can usually find it in the produce section of your grocery store, near the other root vegetables.
Allow the soup to cool to room temperature before transferring it to an airtight container. It will keep for 3-4 days in the refrigerator. You can also freeze it for up to 3 months. Just make sure to thaw it in the fridge overnight before reheating.
Recipe
Dutch Split Pea Soup (Snert)
Ingredients
- 2 bacon slices chopped
- 1 pork chop bone-in
- 9 ounces dried peas
- 6 cups water
- 2 potatoes cubed
- 1 medium onion finely minced
- 2 celery stalks chopped + its leaves, roughly chopped
- ½ celeriac cubed
- 1 leek dark green parts removed and white parts thinly sliced
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 large carrot diced
- ½ ring Polish Kielbasa chopped
- ½ teaspoon of salt
- ¼ teaspoon of pepper
- parsley chopped (optional)
Instructions
- Add water, peas, bay leaf, bacon and pork shop into a large pot and bring everything to a boil.
- When it starts to boil, remove the foam with a slotted spoon. Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook for 50 minutes until pork chop is cooked.
- Remove pork chop from the soup and add the remaining vegetables: potatoes, onion, celery, celeriac, carrot and leek.
- Add ½ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon of pepper.
- Cook soup for 50 more minutes or until peas are completely cooked and soup has thickened significantly.
- At the same time shred the meat from the pork chop and remove the bone.
- Add shredded meat along with chopped Kielbasa into the soup and cook for another 10 minutes.
- Check for salt and pepper and add some more if needed.
- Serve immediately and sprinkle fresh parsley into each bowl.
- Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
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Iryna Bychkiv is the founder and writer of the culinary website Lavender & Macarons, where she shares clean, European-inspired recipes that are delicious, easy to prepare, and made with wholesome ingredients. Iryna loves creating meals that are simple yet healthy and unique, including vegan and vegetarian recipes.
Iryna is also a freelance writer for MSN and Associated Press Wire.
Trang says
It's still a bit warm where I am, but I can't wait to make soup! This one is definitely going on my list 🙂
Iryna says
Thank you Trang! This soup is definitely a good choice for a colder weather.
Renz says
This looks warming and comforting. I love split peas soup and loving your additions to it.
Iryna says
Thank you Renz!
Kristine says
I love split pea soup and this version sounds so tasty. Such perfect fall soup. I can't wait to try this, thanks!
Iryna says
Thank you Kristine!
Matt @ Plating Pixels says
So much pork goodness. This looks amazing.
Iryna says
Thanks Matt!
Tina says
Split pea soup is one of my favorite all time classics. I like it a little water too so that I can dip bread in. Thanks for this delicious looking recipe:)
Iryna says
Thank you Tina! Yes, dipping bread sounds like a great addition.
Kulia says
It looks very very tasty!
Iryna says
🙂