Cooking Split Peas

Ingredients

  • ¾ cup split peas*
  • 3 cups water
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 1 -2 bay leaves

Stove Top Instructions

  1. To a large pot add split peas, onion, bay leaves, and 3 cups water.
  2. Bring to boil, cover and cook over low heat, until the peas break down and are tender, about 45 minutes. (see note below)
  3. Remove the bay leaves. Add the slit peas, with cooking water, to a blender and blend until smooth. The mixture will be very thick. This mixture can be used in recipe with Split Pea Soup with Barley.

Instant Pot Instructions

  1. Set pressure on manual for 10 minutes. Let pressure drop down naturally.
  2. Remove the bay leaves. Add the slit peas, with cooking water, to a blender and blend until smooth. The mixture will be very thick. This mixture can be used in recipe with Split Pea Soup with Barley.

Notes

  • Cooking split peas separately and blending is an option, but I found it to be the best way if you like creamy peas.
  • I find it best to soak peas over night in about 3 cups of water. This will ensure they will all cook at the same time. I have found it optional, to discard the soaking water and start with fresh. Cooking time depends on how old the peas are. Even with soaking, some peas can take as long as a couple of hours to get soft.
  • Dried peas will foam up and can boil over, so choose a large pot and keep an eye on it. When cooking on a low heat it’s less likely to boil over.