Split Pea Soup

Soups are my favorite. I can just live on soups. I am sure many of us like soup. Its healthy, its delicious and a great meal supplement. My husband loves split pea soup from CPK (California Pizza Kitchen) This made me try the split pea soup at home and beleive me its a super duper hit!!! And now, no more CPK, its only AK's split pea soup. ;-)

Nutritional Facts:

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  Split pea - legume family- is a great source of cholestrol lowering fiber.
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  They are also of special benefit in managing blood-sugar disorders
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  It provides excellent amounts of  important minerals,  B-vitamins, and protein--all with virtually no fat.
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  They are a good source of potassium
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  It is also good for lowering high blood pressure.

Ingredients:

Split Peas  - 1 Cup

Bay Leaf - 3 leaves

Cloves - 3-4

Onion - 1 cup Chopped

Celery - 1/2 cup Chopped

Paprika - A pinch

Salt - to taste

Olive Oil - 2 tbsp

Water - 1.5 cups

Preparation:

Pressure cook the split peas or cook split pea in 1.5 cups boiling water in a pan untill its cooked well.

In another pan heat oil and add bay leaves and cloves. When the cloves start to fluff, take the cloves and bay leaves out (its only for the nice aroma) and add onions. Fry untill it starts to loose its color and add celery and salt. Continue to fry till celery is almost done.

Remove from heat and let it cool. When warm, add the mixture in a blender along with the cooked split pea. Add about 3/4 of the cooked split peas and blend everything untill it blends well.

Now again turn on the heat and pour this mixture in the pan and add the left over split peas to this and let it cook for about 5 mins untill it comes to a boil. 

Drizzle paprika on top of the soup and serve it with hot corn bread or any other variety. Such a treat to taste buds in winter :-)

I am sending this to Briciole MLLA - legumi che passione! (numero 26) and to Susan's Legume event . Also sending this this to Debis' Kahakai Kithcen - Souper Sundays!!