Cold Indian Split Pea Soup Recipes

CURRY SPLIT PEA SOUP

Steps:

• In a large soup pot over medium heat, heat the olive oil, and stir in the lemon juice, garlic, carrots, onions, and celery. Cook and stir until the carrots become soft enough to break apart with a fork, about 20 minutes. Transfer the vegetables and their juices into a bowl, and refrigerate. Once slightly cool, place them into a blender, and blend until the mixture forms a smooth puree.
• Pour the water into the soup pot, and stir in the chicken bouillon cubes until they dissolve. Pour in the vegetable puree, and bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat. Stir in split peas, Italian seasoning, cumin, salt, black pepper, cayenne pepper, and curry powder. Reduce heat to medium-low, and cook until the peas soften and break down into a thick soup, at least 45 minutes.

DAL--INDIAN SPLIT PEA SOUP AND FRESH TOMATO RELISH

Steps:

• In a heavy-bottomed pot, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the onion, the garlic, the ginger root and the jalapeno. Saute for 2 minutes, stirring. Add the split peas, the coriander, the cumin, the celery seed, the cinnamon and the clove. Mix well. Add the chicken stock, stir again, and bring to a boil. Turn heat down to low and simmer slowly, partially covered, for about one hour, or until split peas are just soft. You may need to add more chicken stock if peas become too thick and dry.
• While soup is cooking, prepare the relish: Toss all six ingredients together in a bowl. Season to taste.
• With a wooden spoon, crush a few of the soft peas in the soup against the side of the pot. Stir well. If the soup is too thick, add a little chicken stock. Season to taste. Ladle the hot soup into four wide soup bowls. Mix in most of the tomato relish, saving about 1/4 cup. Place three shrimp in the center of each bowl. Divide the remaining tomato relish among the four bowls, placing it in the center of the shrimp. Top that with a few fresh cilantro leaves. Serve immediately.

INDIAN SPLIT PEA SOUP WITH SEARED SHRIMP AND FRESH TOMATO RELISH

Steps:

• In a bowl, toss the shrimp with the cumin, cardamom, garlic, coriander, cinnamon, clove, salt and cayenne pepper. Marinate refrigerated for one hour. For the soup: In a heavy-bottomed pot, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the onion, garlic ginger root and jalapeno. Saute for two minutes, stirring. Add the split peas, coriander, cumin, celery seed, cinnamon and clove. Mix well. Add the chicken stock, stir again, and bring to a boil. Turn heat down to low and simmer slowly, partially covered, for about one hour, or until split peas are just soft. You may need to add more chicken stock if the peas become too thick and dry.
• While the soup is cooking, prepare the relish, toss all six ingredients together in a bowl. Season to taste. When the soup is ready, butterfly the marinated shrimp, removing the veins. Place in a heavy saute pan over medium high heat. Add two tablespoons of vegetable oil, swirling around the pan. Add the shrimp, cut side down, and saute for 2-3 minutes, or until just cooked. Turn the shrimp over, and cook the spiced side for 1 minute. Remove from pan. With a wooden spoon, crush a few of the soft peas in the soup against the side of the pot. Stir well. If the soup looks too thick, add a little chicken stock. Season to taste. Ladle hot soup into four wide soup bowls. Mix in most of the tomato relish, saving about 1/4 cup. Place three shrimp in the center of each bowl. Divide the remaining tomato relish among four bowls, placing it in the center of the shrimp. Top that with a few fresh cilantro leaves. Serve immediately.
• Recommended Wine: Scharffenberger Brut

UNCLE BILL'S INDIAN SPLIT PEA SOUP

Steps:

• In a large cooking pot, add 10 cups of water and bring to boil.
• Add ham bone, bay leaves, peppercorns, whole cloves, cinnamon stick, celery including leaves, green and yellow split peas and red lentils.
• Bring to boil, reduce heat, cover and simmer for 3 hours.
• Remove from heat and let completely cool until fat gels on the top.
• Carefully skim all fat and discard.
• Remove ham bone and large ham pieces that fall off the bone and set aside.
• Leave small pieces of ham in cooking pot.
• Remove sack of cloves and cinnamon stick and discard.
• In a frying pan, heat olive oil.
• Add onion and garlic and saute' until onions are translucent.
• Transfer cooked onions to cooking pot.
• Add 8 cups of water, curry powder, turmeric, ground cumin, red hot pepper flakes, salt, carrots, and bring to boil.
• Reduce heat, cover and simmer for 1/2 hour.
• Puree' soup in batches in a food processor or blender and return to cooking pot.
• Chop ham pieces into bite size pieces and add to cooking pot.
• Adjust seasonings to taste.
• Bring soup back to boil.
• If you prefer a spicier soup, add more red hot pepper flakes or some cayenne pepper.
• Serve soup hot.