Creamy Split Pea Soup

Creamy Yellow Split Pea Soup  will be great for all times of the day.

Let us talk about split peas for a moment. Of all pea categories, I personally find split peas hard to work with. Whenever we buy some, it takes quite some time for us to finally make something presentable out of them. Of all the methods I have tried though, I find this soup the most effective because my family will eat it instantly unlike all the other methods.

Do you like split peas or not? Better yet, do you like cooking them? If so, in  what different ways do you cook them?

The peas don’t need cream or milk because they naturally have a creamy consistency. The soup itself is great eaten alone, with bread or anything else you would like.

What you will need

3 C. Boiled  and drained split peas

2 Large tomatoes, finely diced

1 Large green pepper, finely diced

1 Carrot, finely diced

1 Large onion, finely chopped

1 Garlic clove, finely chopped

1/2 Tsp. Curry

1/4 Tsp. Black pepper

Chilli flakes (optional)

1 Tbsp. Oil

Salt to taste

Method

Add oil in a pan on medium heat. Sauté the garlic and onions. Add the tomatoes and stir well till they are softened. Add green pepper and the split peas. Stir. Add the carrots, curry and salt. Stir and cover pan and let the peas simmer for about 10 minutes. Stir and add a little water (so they don’t burn). Sprinkle in the black pepper. Let simmer for another ten minutes until the vegetables are softened. Remove from fire and let the peas cool. After slightly cooling, pour them in a blender, add water (either the water used to boil the peas or vegetable or chicken stock) and blend till puréed. Add water depending on the consistency you desire. Sprinkle crushed nuts and simsim on top  and serve warm.

Let me know in the comments below, how you prepare your split peas.

🙂

Sophie

Nile Perch Groundnut Stew + Featuring On CNN African Voices

Scorching sun, dusty roads and paths, bags heavy with produce, stained faux marble counter tops, the struggle of cutting vegetables with a filleting knife, droopy eyes,  a million plus one thoughts in my head,  and the looming massive camera and lighting equipment. This was the situation we had when this stew was made. If you haven’t already guessed, this is the stew that I cooked in the CNN African Voices feature. It was hard for me to keep this as a secret from you guys because I wanted to see how you’d react when taken by surprise! Did I do well? I was overwhelmed by the response I got from all over the world. It truly is a humbling experience. All this would not have been possible without you reading this little corner. I am so grateful for all of you and hope you stay a little longer. And while you do, I hope you benefit from it too. Since I have calmed down from hyperventilating (A.K.A excitement and anxiety), I can now share this simple and easy to pull off stew.

When ever I am travelling back  and forth from the city, there are two specific places where we pass where fish is being sold. And by fish I don’t mean your typical palm-sized tilapia that costs 3000 to 4000 shillings (Now that I think about it, palms do vary in size, Oh well…), I mean Nile perch. Some days there will be a huge crowd waiting to buy the famed Nile perch (Mputa) because the size can vary from a palm’s length to larger than life. Yes they are that big. I remember once passing by in a taxi and straining my neck because the size of the perch was unbelievably large. The great thing is that right next to the fish mongers, there will be street cooks cooking up a storm of aromatic food but mostly fish (so just imagine passing by on an empty stomach). Because where fresh fish that good being sold, fried fish will be found too and boy is it good. Then there are days when the perch is scarce, so scarce that the only one available is cut into pieces and then each piece is sold at a price. Such are the seasons of Nile perch. Nevertheless, Nile perch is good (for a lack of a better word really!) and every Ugandan will tell you so. Because the fish is so fleshy and aromatic, we have a stew we pride ourselves in making. This stew consists of a thick groundnut paste, Nile perch, some vegetables and seasoning.

RECIPE COMING SOON

 

🙂

Sophie

 

AKIU’s Top 7 Warm Hearty Soups And Stews

Last week, I (for the first time in a really long time) read  the newspaper for a particular day. It mostly comprised of the issues surrounding the upcoming elections. There was one article that grabbed my attention though. It was about how the weather has completely changed thanks to the El Nino effect. I was prepared to get dusted since January is generally known to be a dusty month. But now that the days are met with half gloom/fog and half rain, it is time to get cozy. Right? Here are seven soups and stews that will add warmth to your mornings and even whole days!

Black bean stew

Creamy bean soup

Firinda soup

Fresh Bean soup

Smoky Eggplant Permesan Meatballs in Homemade  Sauce

Creamy Pumpkin Soup

Creamy Potato Soup

And this hearty Katogo too!

Usually I prepare the soups in the night and then warm them up in the morning. Hoe you get warmer with these.

Also, I have received tremendous response from you regarding the free e-book I gave out a few months ago. Over 115 downloads have happened. Thank you. If you haven’t got a chance to get a copy for yourself, please do so  before I take it down (in a few weeks’ time).

 

🙂

Sophie