Andersen's Split Pea Soup Recipe

This Copycat Pea Soup Andersen's Split Pea Soup is both filling and nutritious.

Pea Soup Andersen's Split Pea Soup {Copycat}

This month, the members of our little Soup Saturday group were charged with posting soup recipes that represent our state or region. I'm sure this is easier for folks from any place but California.

How do you find a common denominator for California? This is a state where folks immediately identify themselves as being from northern, central, or southern California when asked. And if you are from San Diego, that's even a whole different deal. You can't just say you are from California when you are traveling. Even if you do, someone will ask, "which part?"

They know.

Californians have a love/hate relationship with each other. Part of it is all about water wars. Remember the movie Chinatown?

This is a state where you can count on someone periodically proposing a ballot measure to break up the state into two or three parts.

Northern Californians hate that they ship some of their water south. In fact, I know some folks who spent their entire lives in Southern California, but when they moved to northern California, they suddenly became resentful. It goes deep.

Pea Soup Andersen's Split Pea Soup {Copycat}

San Diego hates Los Angeles. Northern California hates southern California. Southern California wonders why everyone hates us.

When I took my son to Sacramento State's new student orientation program when he went to college, some of the San Francisco bay area parents were complaining about some issue about living up there, which I can't even remember. When I told then how we successfully deal with it in southern California, I was told, "Yes, but you have to live down there" with complete disdain.

Alrighty then. P.S. and you say "Hella?" Really?

I come from a long line of California natives. My dad was born in San Jose. His dad was born in San Diego. My parents both went to Cal. My grandmother's family were Italian Swiss who settled in Betteravia, California in the early 20th century. My roots are both northern and southern Californian.

We go way back.

Fortunately, there is one soup that pretty much unites all of California. It's the split pea soup from Pea Soup Andersen's. When Californians travel north or south throughout the state, we have to pass through either Buellton or Santa Nella. Split Pea Andersen's is pretty much legendary for California travelers. The restaurant was started by a Danish immigrant at the turn of the 20th century.

This soup is iconic.

Pea Soup Andersen's Split Pea Soup {Copycat}

This split pea soup is worth making. You can make it vegan, or you can add some meaty garnishes if you like. When traveling up the 101 (yes, we do start our naming of highways with "the" here), stop by the restaurant in Buellton. When traveling up the 5, stop by the restaurant in Santa Nella. You won't be disappointed.

After the recipe, be sure to check out the rest of the regional soups. Thanks to Ashley of Cheese Curds in Paradise for choosing this them.

Yield: 8 servings

Pea Soup Andersen's Split Pea Soup {Copycat}

INGREDIENTS:

2 quarts water (or 1 quart water and 1 quart chicken broth)
1 pound dried split peas, rinsed
1 large rib of celery, coarsely chopped
1 large carrot, peeled and chopped
1 medium brown or yellow onion, chopped
1/4 teaspoon ground thyme
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 bay leaf
salt and pepper to taste
Garnishes of your choice

INSTRUCTIONS:

Add all of the ingredients except the salt, pepper, and garnishes to a large saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium and boil for 20 minutes. Reduce the heat to low and continue to cook for another 30 minutes, until the peas are tender. Add salt and pepper to taste.
Process the soup through a food mill until only pulp remains. If you don't have a food mill, you can use a mesh strainer.
Reheat the soup and serve immediately with garnishes of your choice, including bacon, ham, croutons, scallions, and/or cheddar cheese.

This recipe is all over the interwebs. My favorite place to learn more about this soup is Shockingly Delicious.