Gule ærter (Split Pea Soup)

“Gule ærter” translates literally to “yellow peas.” It’s a soup that is usually cooked on salt pork, but we use bacon and ham in ours, since it’s more widely available where we are. As the name indicates, the dish is basically just split pea soup. But, it’s incredibly comforting, particularly if the weather is cold, and simply delicious!

Yes, we are ~technically~ a baking blog. But that won’t stop us from sharing any recipe we love, even if it doesn’t technically involve baking anything. Although, this one does goes really well with freshly baked bread! A classic side dish to eat alongside this soup is a slice of rugbrød (Danish rye bread – find our recipes here and here), topped with mustard, a piece of pork, and rødbeder (pickled beets).

The recipe is straightforward, and if you’ve ever made any kind of soup before, you’ll find it very simple. Cook your bacon, then your vegetables. Add split peas, vegetable stock, seasoning and simmer until the split peas are cooked through. We would suggest making a big batch, because it actually tastes better the next day, when the flavors have the chance to really mingle and develop. We hope you try it!

Gule ærter (Split Pea Soup)

No ratings yet

This split pea soup is just comfort in a bowl! Feel free to replace ingredients, add ingredients or more spices, or customize the recipe as you wish – whatever floats your boat!

Servings 10 servings

Prep Time 30 minutes mins

Cook Time 1 hour hr 30 minutes mins

Total Time 2 hours hrs

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

IMPORTANT NOTE:

We always bake using a digital scale and the metric system (grams and milliliters). We can’t promise that our cup measurements will be as accurate! Additionally, we bake and develop our recipes in a convection (fan) oven.

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 6 strips bacon, cubed
• 4-5 medium-sized carrots
• 3 stalks of celery
• 3 leeks, cleaned thoroughly
• Fresh thyme, chopped (can also use dried)
• 24 oz (685g) bag of yellow split peas
• 2 liters (8 1/2 cups) vegetable stock (or ham or chicken stock! you can also add a ham hock to the soup if you have it)
• 4-5 slices of pre-cooked spiral ham, cubed
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

 

• Chop vegetables. Celery and carrots should be diced, leeks cut in circles and thoroughly cleaned. Also, make sure to sort through the split peas in case there are any small rocks in there.
  
• Saute the cubed bacon until most of the fat has been rendered (cooked out). You don’t want them completely crispy, but you want them to start getting there.
  
• Add celery, carrots, and leeks. Cook for 5-10 minutes, or until the leeks have softened.
  
• Add thyme, then add split peas.
  
• Stir, then add your stock.
  
• Bring to a boil, and then simmer for 1 – 1 1/2 hours, until the split peas are completely cooked through.
• Add cubed ham and salt and pepper to taste.

Course: Dinner

Cuisine: Danish

Keyword: autumn, broth, carrot, celery, comfort food, ham, hearty, soup, winter, yellow split peas

Difficulty: Beginner