Description
This Slow Cooker Sweet Potato Split Pea Soup is the ultimate combination of flavor and convenience. It’s packed with nutritious ingredients like creamy sweet potatoes, earthy split peas, and aromatic spices. Whether you’re looking for a meal-prep option, a weeknight dinner, or a hearty soup to warm your soul, this recipe has you covered. Let the slow cooker do the hard work while you enjoy a rich, comforting bowl of deliciousness.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups dried split peas (rinsed)
- 2 medium sweet potatoes (peeled and diced)
- 1 medium onion (chopped)
- 2 carrots (peeled and chopped)
- 2 celery stalks (chopped)
- 4 garlic cloves (minced)
- 6 cups vegetable broth or chicken broth
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric (optional, for color)
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon salt (or more to taste)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil (optional, for sautéing vegetables)
- 1 bay leaf (optional, for added flavor)
- Fresh parsley for garnish (optional)
Instructions
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Optional Sautéing for Enhanced Flavor:
- Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a skillet over medium heat.
- Sauté the onion, garlic, carrots, and celery for 3–4 minutes, until slightly softened and fragrant. This step adds depth of flavor but can be skipped if you’re short on time.
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Assemble Ingredients in the Slow Cooker:
- Add the rinsed split peas, diced sweet potatoes, chopped onion, carrots, celery, and minced garlic to your slow cooker.
- Pour in the vegetable broth or chicken broth.
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Season the Soup:
- Stir in the dried thyme, ground cumin, ground turmeric (if using), ground black pepper, and salt.
- Add the bay leaf for extra flavor, if desired.
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Cook the Soup:
- Cover the slow cooker and set it to Low for 7–8 hours or High for 4–5 hours. Let the ingredients cook until the split peas and vegetables are tender.
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Adjust Texture and Seasoning:
- Remove the bay leaf. Taste the soup and adjust salt and pepper as needed.
- For a creamier texture, use an immersion blender to partially blend the soup, leaving some chunks. Alternatively, leave it as is for a chunkier consistency.
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Serve and Garnish:
Notes
- Blending Options: If you prefer a fully creamy soup, blend the entire batch using an immersion blender or a regular blender. For a chunky soup, blend only half or skip blending entirely.
- Customizable Additions: Feel free to add other vegetables such as zucchini, green beans, or kale for added nutrition and texture.
- Freezing Tip: This soup freezes well! Portion it into freezer-safe containers for a quick and hearty meal anytime.
- Vegan Option: Use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth for a vegan-friendly version.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 7 hours
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American