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    Home » Recipes » Czech Food

    Easy Recipe for Super Tasty and Hearty Yellow Pea Soup with Pancetta (Czech Style)

    Published: Feb 16, 2021 · Modified: Feb 24, 2023 · by Markie · Leave a Comment

    Jump to Recipe

    Hi! Today, I'm here with a super tasty recipe for hearty yellow pea soup with pancetta!

    This soup (hrachová polévka) is traditionally served as a part of Christmas dinner in the Czech Republic, but there is no reason why not to enjoy its health benefits throughout winter!

    This yellow pea soup is full of big flavours and also valuable nutrients, such as vitamins, minerals, proteins, and fibre!

    I cook it often, especially in winter, as it is one of my boyfriend's most favourite soups, alongside lentil soup and broccoli and pea soup.

    Hearty yellow pea soup with carrots, onion, green peas and pancetta, served with bread croutons.
    Jump to:
    • What do you need to make this yellow pea soup?
    • How to cook yellow split peas?
    • How to store yellow pea soup with pancetta?
    • 📖 The Recipe

    What do you need to make this yellow pea soup?

    The main ingredient in this soup is yellow split pea, which is an amazingly versatile source of protein, fibre and healthy carbs.

    Yellow split pea is a wonderful pantry ingredient. It is usually sold dried, so it can stay in your cupboard for a while.

    A good and rich stock will add lots of taste to this soup. Chicken stock or vegetable stock work here best.

    In general, any stock of your liking can be used here, but darker types can sometimes change the color of the soup too, so be mindful of that.

    Carrots are a great addition here too. They bring sweet flavour and bright orange color, but also many vitamins and minerals.

    Cooked meat such as pancetta, or diced bacon (eventually smoked sausage) gives their umami taste to this soup. If you're vegan or vegetarian, skip the meat completely and fry the onion and garlic in 2 tablespoons of sunflower or vegetable oil instead.

    Towards the end of the cooking process, I add half a cup of frozen green (garden) peas to this soup - it adds to the soup's lovely vibrant tone and even more interesting texture. The green pea will keep its color if added for the last two minutes of cooking.

    Herbs such as marjoram and parsley highlight the flavours of this soup. Use fresh or dried ones, according to what is available.

    This yellow pea soup tastes delicious with crunchy bread croutons or toasted slices of bread.

    How to cook yellow split peas?

    Yellow split peas can sometimes be hard to cook right away. Therefore, it's good to soak it in water the night before cooking. This way, you're guaranteed that it will cook much faster!

    When cooked, yellow pea starts to break up and can be easily mashed or blended.

    In this recipe, I leave it as it is because I prefer the crunchy texture of the soup. However, if you like it creamier, feel free to go over it with a stick blender or mix the soup in a blender before adding more vegetables (you might have to do this in batches).

    How to store yellow pea soup with pancetta?

    After the soup is cooked (and served), leave it to cool down completely. Store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

    This soup may also be kept frozen. Keep it in an airtight food container in your freezer for up to two moths.

    Cook directly from frozen: transfer the frozen soup from the food container into a stock pot. Turn the heat to medium-high and reheat it slowly, stirring occasionally until everything the soup is melted and piping hot.

    Made this recipe? Share your picture on Instagram and tag @markieskitchencom & use the hashtag #markieskitchencom so I can see it!

    📖 The Recipe

    hearty yellow pea soup served with pancetta and bread croutons

    Tasty and hearty yellow pea soup with pancetta (Czech style)

    Markie | MarkiesKitchen.com
    Hearty and flavourful winter soup typically served during Christmas dinner in Czechia. Find more recipes like this at markieskitchen.com
    5 from 1 vote
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    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time 50 minutes mins
    Soaking 12 hours hrs
    Total Time 13 hours hrs
    Course Soup
    Cuisine Czech
    Servings 10
    Calories 296 kcal

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 1 ½ cup dry yellow split peas
    • 2.5 l chicken stock, or vegetable stock
    • 2 carrots
    • 200 g pancetta, or diced bacon
    • 1 onion
    • 2 cloves garlic
    • 2 tablespoon plain flour
    • ½ cup frozen garden peas
    • 1 teaspoon dried marjoram
    • 1 teaspoon dried parsley, or handful fresh parsley, chopped
    • black pepper, salt, to taste

    Instructions
     

    • Soak the dry yellow pea in a bowl with 1,5l cold water for at least 12 hours prior to cooking (overnight).
    • Drain, rinse and cook the yellow pea in stock in a large stockpot on medium-high heat until soft. This should take about 30 mins.
    • Peel and dice the carrots, add them to the soup and cook for 10 mins.
    • In the meantime, peel and chop the onion and cloves of garlic.
    • Add the pancetta (diced bacon) to a frying pan, set on medium-high heat. Fry until browned from all sides. Add the onion and garlic and fry until soft and glossy.
    • Add plain flour into the frying pan and toss until everything is covered in the flour. Fry for a minute and take off the heat.
    • Add the mixture from the frying pan to the soup, bring to boil. The soup should become thicker. Cook for 5 mins. Stir the soup occasionally from the bottom of the stockpot, making sure nothing sticks on there.
    • Add frozen garden pea to the soup. Season with herbs. Cook for 2 mins. Taste, add a pinch of black pepper and salt if needed.
    • Serve hot with bread croutons or toasted bread/baguette.

    Nutritional Information (Estimates Only)

    Calories: 296kcal | Carbohydrates: 32g | Protein: 17g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 21mg | Sodium: 504mg | Potassium: 669mg | Fiber: 9g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 2154IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 35mg | Iron: 2mg
    Keyword carrots, garden peas, yellow pea
    Tried this recipe?Let me know how it was! Give a star rating if you enjoyed it, this helps other readers who are looking for recipes like this!

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    About Markie

    Hi there! I'm a passionate home cook, food blogger and photographer. I enjoy making great food without having to run to the shop every day. I'm here to help you cook easy and delicious meals from classic pantry ingredients. More about me

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    Hi! My name is Markie and I'm here to help you cook easy and delicious meals from typical pantry & store cupboard ingredients!

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