I’ve made split pea soup many times over the years but until I came across this recipe I never thought about making it with beef. The original recipe calls for flanken (short ribs) that you boil and then cook with all the ingredients. I had some beef roast my husband had smoked earlier in the summer that was very tasty when sliced thin the first night but was a little tough the next day. I froze it and knew it would have to be cooked a lot in whatever I came up with to be tender enough to eat but I was really at a loss about what to do with it. When I saw this, I knew I had a winner. My favorite recipes repurpose leftovers in a way that makes them as tasty as the original and this recipe does this! I added potatoes and parsnips. I love how flavorful the potatoes get and the parsnips add just the right hint of sweetness. The original was for the stove top but I don’t think you can beat a slow cooker when it comes to making split pea soup. It takes all day which is a real boon when you won’t be home until some slow cooker recipes that are really best at 6-8 hrs. The peas break down perfectly every time.
I was almost tempted to add a hot dog as the contributor suggested but I didn’t have any on hand. I also served it with sourdough bread from the bakery rather than croutons.
It was a very satisfying and flavorful soup! It does thicken as it cools so you may need to thin out any leftover with additional broth or stock.
Split Pea Soup with Beef
Ingredients
- 16 oz dried split peas
- 2 ½ cup cubed cooked beef I used leftover smoked top round
- 1 onion, chopped
- 1 carrot, diced
- 1 stalk celery, diced
- 1 ½ cup cubed
- 3 cloves garlic, sliced
- 2 parsnips, diced
- 8 cups beef stock
- 1-2 tablespoons herbs de Provence
- 1 bay leaf
- freshly ground black pepper
- sea salt
Instructions
- Place the all ingredients in a 6-quart slow cooker. It will probably be very full–that’s okay!
- Cook on low 10-12 hours.
- Stir and serve.
adapted and updated from Shirley Feldstein’s recipe for Pea Soup appearing in “Quote” The Maven collected by Pioneer Women/NA’AMAT Baltimore Council 1983
