Healthy Pea Soup Recipes

A simple pea soup makes an elegant start to a spring meal. It's also a great way to use frozen vegetables when the produce section is looking bleak.

For this easy slow-cooker split pea soup, look for raw smoky, spicy chorizo. If you can't find raw chorizo, Italian sausage or merguez makes a fine substitute.

Fans of split pea soup will go crazy for bowls of this version that requires almost no hands-on time. If you sop up every last drop of this slow-cooker split pea soup, fantastic; if you have leftovers, even better--it might just be tastier the next day once the flavors have melded. Garnish with fresh thyme sprigs, if desired.

This yellow split pea soup has fresh ginger to give it a bright flavor. Use the best ham you can find to get the most flavor.

Protein-rich yellow split peas combined with fresh vegetables yields a hearty, stewlike curry--perfect for a cold winter night by the fireplace, with a loaf of crusty bread. Try any combination of vegetables--sweet potatoes, winter squash and spinach create a sweeter offering. Don't be alarmed by the number of chiles--the vegetables and split peas bring the heat level down to make each bite addictive without being excessively hot.

Prep and freeze all the ingredients for this homey classic ahead of time, and it will be ready to cook and serve any night of the week--no lengthy simmering needed, thanks to the multicooker. Freezing the ingredients in a round container creates the perfect fit for an easy transfer into your pressure cooker without having to thaw first.

You can use fresh or frozen peas, either of which delivers B vitamins, iron and fiber, in this soup, but if you do take the time to shell fresh peas, you will be rewarded with a special bright, springy flavor.

This Indian-inspired dish adds some spice to your Split Pea Soup recipe. It calls for curry powder, which usually includes cumin, coriander, and turmeric, all spices that pack in that delicious, unique flavor. Try serving over rice.

Adding a bit of dry sherry and warm spices to a classic split-pea with ham soup takes the flavor up to another level.

You won't miss the meat in this easy vegetarian split pea soup. We use finely grated Parmesan cheese to infuse the soup with a rich, savory flavor. Fresh thyme leaves add floral notes, with extra added for an attractive garnish before serving.

Soups like this play up the best qualities of peas, yet mask any falling-off from perfection.