Broccoli Split Pea Soup
In my Junior year of college, I lived in an off-campus house with 2 of my sorority sisters that we called “The Charlie.” The house, I mean. We named it “The Charlie,” after our landlord, who was…well…a character.
ANYWAY- one of the two girls I was living with was from the area— her parents were about a 45 min drive away— and they would often supply the house with food. My favorite thing that they would bring was their homemade split pea soup.
Growing up in a Persian household, I really was not terribly familiar with standard American home meals until I went to college. I either ate Persian food at home, or I ate other cuisines out. But things like meatloaf, chicken pot pie, green bean casseroles, and I guess split pea soup were completely foreign to me. (note: I still have not had chicken pot pie, and I’m vegan now, so I guess that ship has sailed)
Her mom’s split pea soup was SO GOOD. Rich, creamy, hearty, and filled with salty bits of ham. I’ve loved split pea soup ever since.
In 2023, I really entered my bean-girl era. I had a massive goal of regulating my nervous system, activating my bowels, and increasing my stress tolerance. Interestingly, beans help with all 3 of those things. So I started experimenting with lots of bean recipes, and naturally decided I should make my own version of a split pea soup.
This broccoli split pea soup will literally make your skin radiant, your stomach flat, and give your muscles a little boost. In addition to the aesthetic benefits, it’s also protective of your brain health & mood. Specifically:
broccoli is rich in folate, which is linked to neurotransmitter regulation, potentially impacting mood and mental well-being
the soup is packed with probiotics from the miso; and prebiotics from the onions, celery, broccoli, and split peas; making it a gut-health powerhouse. the gut health benefits improve your skin, keep you regular, and also reduce anxiety & depression
onions contain antioxidants, including quercetin, which may contribute to skin & brain health by neutralizing free radicals
both broccoli & green split peas are rich in protein, which supports muscle production & also plays a role in neurotransmitter synthesis, positively influencing mood and mental health
even though the soup is rich & nourishing, it won’t leave you feeling weighed down or sluggish; rather, you’ll feel revived & vibrant because of it’s extremely high nutrient to calorie ratio
And it’s honestly really easy to make.
INGREDIENTS:
1-2 sweet onions
10 cloves garlic
3-4 stalks celery
6 cups water
2 small heads broccoli, chopped
1 15oz bag of dried split green peas
⅔ cup chickpea miso
a little spray of avocado oil
INSTRUCTIONS:
sautee chopped onions in avocado oil till they become translucent, then add chopped garlic
add chopped celery, sautee till everything is soft
add water & scrape the pan to pull up the caramelized bits
add broccoli, then add the picked over & rinsed split peas
let everything cook through, roughly 30-45 min
when everything is soft, turn the heat off, add miso, and blend till smooth
I like to add lemon when serving
You can watch a video of me preparing this soup here.
