Swedish Yellow Pea Soup Ärtsoppa Recipe

Jan 25 2023

This Swedish dried pea soup is a healthy, low-calorie soup traditionally made from dried yellow peas and flavored with smoked pork and select herbs.

Ingredients

1
pound dried yellow or green peas (whole if you can get them, but split ones work just as well)
8
cups water
2
finely chopped onions (2 cups)
1
peeled whole onion studded with 2 cloves
1
large chopped carrot (1/2 cup)
1
meaty ham bone -or- 2 to 3 ham hocks
1
teaspoon dried thyme
1
teaspoon ground ginger
1
teaspoon salt
⅛
teaspoon pepper
1
teaspoon grainy brown mustard

Step 1
Rinse and pick through 1 pound of dried yellow or green peas. If using whole peas, soak the peas overnight in water to cover by about 2 inches.
Step 2
Fill a large pot with 8 cups of water or 6 cups if you like a thicker soup.
Step 3
Add the drained peas, 2 finely chopped onions, 1 peeled whole onion studded with 2 whole cloves, 1 large chopped carrot, and a meaty ham bone (or 2 to 3 ham hocks).
Step 4
Bring to a boil, skimming off any foam, then cover pot and reduce to a simmer over low heat for 90 minutes.
Step 5
If using whole peas, skim off any pea skins that have risen to the surface. Remove 2 to 3 cups of the soup, puree in a blender or food processor, and return puree to the pot.
Step 6
Continue to simmer for at least 30 more minutes, even another hour or more won’t hurt it.
Step 7
Thirty minutes before serving, remove the studded onion and the meat. Chop the meat and return to pot.
Step 8
Season the soup with 1 teaspoon dried thyme, 1 teaspoon ground ginger, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/8 teaspoon pepper. Simmer 15 more minutes.
Step 9
Serve, passing around grainy brown mustard to stir into the soup to taste.