Crossposted to SmarterFitter.com
I haven’t had a flu in a long time. It’s the strangest sensation. I have no symptoms of a cold, such as runny nose or cough. I don’t have a fever. But my entire body feels like it’s been pummeled. My back aches and I’m so lethargic I can barely move. I’ve never slept so much in my life. I equate this to the way I felt after I had my wisdom teeth removed, passed out and exhausted in the bed. Only this time I’m not bleeding all over my pillow, or pumped full of codeine.
Now that I have sufficiently ruined your appetites, perhaps I could bring it back with a comforting bowl of yellow split pea soup? This is another hit from Mark Bittman, who makes a very valid point about vegetarian split pea soup in his book, How to Cook Everything Vegetarian:
Meat-eaters automatically associate split peas with ham bones, so many vegtarian versions of split pea soup add a smoky taste through smoked chiles like dried chipotle or ancho. Tossing a piece of toasted seaweed into the pot is another way to add a “meaty” dimension. The truth is you don’t need either. Why muddle that distinctive pea flavor?
I couldn’t agree more. Once again, vegetarian food doesn’t have to mimic meat to be delicious. The proof: Bittman’s Yellow Split Pea Soup with Pantry Vegetables. The surprise is in the pumpkin, which dissolves beautifully into the soup, adding an extra dimension of creaminess and subtle sweetness. Apparently, this is the way they do it in the Caribbean.
Yellow Split Pea Soup
1 onion, chopped
1 carrot, chopped
1 celery stalk, chopped
salt and pepper
2 cups yellow split peas
6 cups vegetable stock or water
2 cups peeled and chopped sweet potato, yam, plantains, pumpkin, taro root or any combination of the above
cayenne pepper (optional)
lime (optional)
- Heat up the oil in a soup pot over medium-high heat. When hot, add the vegetables and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5 minutes. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
- Add the split peas and stock to the pot. Cook for about 20 minutes.
- Add the potato, pumpkin, or whichever root vegetable you are using. Continue cooking until all the vegetables and peas are soft, about 25-40 minutes.
- Taste and adjust the seasoning. You can leave the soup chunk or blend some if it if you like.
- Serve with a sprinkle of cayenne pepper and a squeeze of lime.
Serves 4.
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