Vegan Split Pea Soup

Gather around a steaming bowl of vegan split pea soup and enjoy the earthy aroma of simmered peas, mingling with the sweet fragrance of roasted carrots and potatoes. This isn’t just soup; it’s a culinary haven where nourishment meets flavor, all woven from the magic of simple, plant-based ingredients. So pull up a chair, grab a spoon, and dive into the delicious warmth of the best split pea vegan soup ever!

Craving cozy comfort food that’s bursting with flavor and good for you? Look no further than this vegan split pea soup recipe. It’s a hearty classic packed with plant-based protein and fiber and makes a healthy and satisfying meal that leaves you feeling warm and happy.

Bonus? It’s incredibly easy to make up and you can change up the add-ins to make it just the way you like it!

What is Split Pea Soup?

Our hero ingredient, the humble split pea, is a nutritional powerhouse. Low in fat and loaded with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, it’s a champion for your health. The base of the soup is built on aromatics like onion, celery, and garlic, simmered with rich vegetable broth for depth.

We’ll then add our secret weapon: a blend of warming spices like thyme, liquid smoke, and plant-based protein via vegan ham or plant-based sausages.

Key Ingredients

You can find the full printable recipe, including ingredient quantities, below. But first, here are some explanations of ingredients and steps to help you make this recipe perfect every time.

Here are the ingredients you’ll need for this recipe, including substitution ideas:

• Olive oil — We’ll use a bit of olive oil to cook the veggies. You can substitute a couple of tablespoons of water if you prefer to make this soup without oil.
• Onion — I used a yellow onion, but you can use white or even red onion.
• Celery — You’ll need a couple of stalks of celery.
• Carrots — A couple of chopped carrots work perfectly for this soup.
• Garlic — You’ll want to add 2 to 3 cloves of garlic.
• Thyme — I add a little bit of dried thyme for warm and cozy flavors.
• Split peas — The main ingredient! I buy split peas in bags near the other bagged beans in my local grocery store. However, you can also buy them in bulk at health food stores.
• Potatoes — I prefer using a couple of russet potatoes. You can substitute sweet potatoes.
• Liquid Smoke — We want that smoky flavor in this soup and liquid smoke is a great way to get it. You can also use smoked paprika.
• Broth — I prefer to combine vegetarian Better than Bouillon with water to produce a high-quality vegetable broth. You can substitute your favorite vegetable broth.
• Bay leaf — I like to add a bay leaf (or two) while the soup simmers. This is optional, but not necessary.
• Protein — love making a vegan ham loaf and then cutting it into cubes. That veggie ham is made from seitan (wheat meat) so it’s high in protein. Another option is to add veggie sausage. There are plenty of store-bought options here, my favorite being Field Roast sausage links because they are flavorful and affordable. Of course, you can also use Impossible or Beyond Sausage. Just cook up the sausages following the package directions.

How to Make Vegan Split Pea Soup

1. Cook onions and veggies in a pot over medium heat.
2. Add garlic and cook for one minute.
3. Stir in the split peas, chopped potatoes spices, and smoke sauce. 
4. Stir in the bouillon and water.  
5. When the soup is ready, process around a third of the soup to make it creamy.
6. Before serving, add vegan cubed ham or sausages.
7. Season with salt and pepper to taste before serving.
8. Serve with cornbread or bread. This soup will last in the fridge in a sealed container for 4 to 5 days. It can be frozen for up to 2 to 3 months.

More Vegan Soup Recipes

If you love this vegan split pea soup recipe, here are more favorites to try:

Vegan Red Beans and Rice

90 mins total

Vegan Carrot Ginger Soup

40 mins total

Vegan Potato Soup

50 mins total

Vegan Lentil Soup

40 mins total