4.50 from 6 votes

Vegan Coconut Split Pea Soup + Slow Cooker Version

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Move over old school split pea soup, there is a new kid in town! Vegan Coconut Split Pea Soup is loaded with luscious warm spices like cardamom and turmeric, blended with creamy coconut milk. Yummy, nutritious, and so easy to make!

Vegan Coconut Split Pea Soup, loaded with warm spices and creamy coconut milk. This isn't your Grandmas' split pea soup!

There’s this little restaurant a few hours north of Los Angeles off of the 101 freeway called, “Pea Soup Anderson’s” which, obviously, is known for its pea soup. It has been around for ages (1928 to be exact) and was the most welcome refuge while on a California jaunt a few years back with my healthy partner in crime, Karen.

Vegan Coconut Split Pea Soup, loaded with warm spices and creamy coconut milk. This isn't your Grandmas' split pea soup!
Vegan Coconut Split Pea Soup, loaded with warm spices and creamy coconut milk. This isn't your Grandmas' split pea soup!

Pea Soup Anderson’s serves 1.5 million bowls of pea soup a year! Which tells me that there are a lot of split pea soup lovers in this world. If you happen to be near Pea Soup Anderson’s be sure to order the “travelers special” which is a bottomless bowl of the jolly green goodness. It wasn’t terribly hard to knock down at least 2 refills (maybe 3… but ya know bottomless, so who’s counting?).

If you happen to live in very far away from Pea Soup Anderson’s, like me, and get a hankering for pea soup, go ahead and make my version. No, it’s not the classic, but dare I say better?

Vegan Coconut Split Pea Soup, loaded with warm spices and creamy coconut milk. This isn't your Grandmas' split pea soup!

5 Reasons to Make My Vegan Coconut Split Pea Soup

  • Split peas are loaded with protein! Which makes this a plant-based soup that is also a high protein soup #Winning
  • Coconut milk blended into split peas is genius #Bragging
  • Split pea soup is the breakfast of champions. (No, seriously, this makes the best breakfast!)
  • You put lime (in the..) and coconut and you drink the bowl up — so there’s that.
  • You can make this in the slow cooker very easily, just pop in all of the ingredients set on low for 8 hours or high for 4. No need to soak the split peas! Just allow the slow cooker to do it’s magic
  • (bonus reason) Turmeric is one of the most potent anti-inflammatories on the planet (just make sure you follow this tip when you use turmeric)! So this soup is really really good for you. Like really, really, really good for you 🙂
Vegan Coconut Split Pea Soup, loaded with warm spices and creamy coconut milk. This isn't your Grandmas' split pea soup!

I love the combination of protein packed split peas and warm Indian spices. I used cardamom, turmeric, cinnamon, and cumin in this vegan coconut split pea soup then blended it all together with coconut milk, mint leaves, and finished with a squeeze of lime juice. Ahhh!! Seriously you guys this is so good! I sometimes will garnish with a few bits of shredded coconut for extra good coconut goodness.

Vegan Coconut Split Pea Soup, loaded with warm spices and creamy coconut milk. This isn't your Grandmas' split pea soup!
Vegan Coconut Split Pea Soup, loaded with warm spices and creamy coconut milk. This isn't your Grandmas' split pea soup!

There is something so wholly satisfying about this version of pea soup, I’ve actually become a bit obsessed with having it for breakfast. It satisfies all of my morning desires and nutritionally is pretty dang awesome for breakfast. Protein? Check. Complex carbs? Check. Delicious Town? You betcha!

Breakfast, lunch, dinner, or snack this is your new go-to split pea soup recipe and I know you are going to love it.

Vegan Coconut Split Pea Soup, loaded with warm spices and creamy coconut milk. This isn't your Grandmas' split pea soup!

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Vegan Coconut Split Pea Soup, loaded with warm spices and creamy coconut milk. This isn't your Grandmas' split pea soup!

Vegan Coconut Split Pea Soup

Abra Pappa, MS, CNS, LDN
Move over old school split pea soup, there is a new kid in town! Vegan Coconut Split Pea Soup is loaded with luscious warm spices like cardamom and turmeric, blended with creamy coconut milk. Yummy, nutritious, and so easy to make!
4.50 from 6 votes
Prep Time 1 hour
Cook Time 2 hours 30 minutes
Total Time 3 hours 30 minutes
Course Soup
Cuisine American
Servings 8 cups
Calories 228 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1 pound of green split peas rinsed and sorted
  • 1 large onion chopped
  • 1 large carrot chopped
  • 1 tablespoon of coconut oil
  • 2 cloves of garlic chopped
  • 1/2 teaspoon of turmeric
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons of ground cumin
  • 1/4 teaspoon of ground cardamom or 4 cardamom pods, but remove them before blending
  • 1/4 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
  • 4 cups of vegetable stock
  • 1 can of light coconut milk
  • pinch of sea salt
  • 20 fresh mint leaves about a large handful
  • 1 tbsp fresh lime juice

Instructions
 

  • In a large soup pot, pour 6 cups hot water over rinsed and sorted split peas. Boil for 2 minutes, turn off heat, cover and let sit for one hour.
  • After an hour drain split peas and set aside.
  • In large soup pot saute onion, carrot, and garlic in coconut oil for 10 minutes until soft. Add all dry spices and stir well (this should begin to smell amazingly good!)
  • Add veggie stock, coconut milk, and split peas.
  • Reduce heat and simmer for 2.5 hours, or until split peas are tender.
  • Once split peas are tender (taste to be sure) place half of the soup in a blender and blend with lime juice and mint leaves. Return blended portion to pot, stir together.
  • Serve with an extra sprig of mint and a squeeze of lime.

Notes

*You can make this in the slow cooker! Just add all ingredients to slow cooker pot, cook on low for 8 hours or high for 4 hours. No need to soak split peas!
Once cooked remove half of the soup, blend, and return to pot.
*Garnish with mint leaves, chopped carrot, shredded coconut, and a squeeze of lime juice (all optional).

Nutrition

Calories: 228kcalCarbohydrates: 38gProtein: 14gFat: 2gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 486mgPotassium: 621mgFiber: 15gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 1715IUVitamin C: 4mgCalcium: 48mgIron: 3mg
Snap a photo when you try this recipe!Tag me! @abrapappa or #abraskitchen so I can feature your photo!

Editors Note: This post was originally published on 11/13/14 but has been updated with new photos, nutritional info, and a slow cooker version. Woohoo!

Abra's Kitchen Healthy Food Blog

Abra is a licensed nutritionist, seasoned home cook, and forever flavor-chaser. She’s spent more than two decades exploring the connection between food and health—and just as long obsessing over what makes something truly delicious. Abra’s Kitchen is where those two loves meet, with recipes that celebrate vegetables, follow the seasons, and make you excited to cook.

4.50 from 6 votes (5 ratings without comment)

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11 Comments

  1. I’ve made this once and loved it! About to make it a second time. Although you mention turmeric being more beneficial if used in conjunction with black pepper I find it interesting you don’t have black pepper as an ingredient in this soup?

  2. I am very interested in this recipe. It sounds so delicious. I wanted ask about the mint. I have never cooked with mint. What is it like in the dish?

  3. Rebecca Boyd says:

    Got a pot in the slow cooker simmering, smells delicious! Don’t have enough room to add coconut milk until the end but I can’t wait to taste this!!!

    1. Yay! So glad you found the recipe, it truly is one of my favorites.

  4. Do you think brown lentils would work in place of peas?

    1. No, they are pretty different from split peas. You could certainly try and let me know.

  5. Also, walnuts on top, rather than ham or bacon crumbles ( like they do at Anderson’s) is quite lovely as well! Great recipe!

  6. You’re right on target about how wonderful split pea soup is. I frequently make mine similar to what you’ve shown here, but I like to add potatoes (sweet or white) too. I’ve never tried it with coconut milk; perhaps I shall.

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