Description
Swedish Yellow Pea Soup (Ärtsoppa) is a traditional, hearty dish made with yellow peas, vegetables, spices, and chicken. Simmered until creamy and flavorful, it’s often served with mustard and pancakes in Sweden, making it both comforting and satisfying, especially on cold days.
Ingredients
2 cups dried yellow peas, rinsed and sorted
1 onion, chopped
2 carrots, peeled and diced
2 celery stalks, chopped
2 cups cooked chicken, diced
1 bay leaf
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
8 cups water or chicken broth
1 tablespoon mustard (for serving)
Salt to taste
Fresh parsley, chopped (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- Rinse and sort the dried yellow peas.
- In a large pot, combine peas, water or broth, onion, carrots, celery, chicken, bay leaf, thyme, and black pepper.
- Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce to a gentle simmer.
- Cook for 1.5 to 2 hours, until peas are tender and starting to break down.
- Remove bay leaf and stir the soup well.
- Season with salt to taste.
- Serve hot with a spoonful of mustard on top and garnish with parsley if desired.
Notes
For a vegetarian version, omit the chicken and use vegetable broth.
Soaking peas overnight can reduce cooking time by about 30 minutes.
Add a pinch of allspice or cloves for a classic Swedish flavor.
Soup tastes even better the next day as flavors deepen.
Freezes well for up to 3 months; reheat with a splash of broth or water if too thick.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 2 hours
- Category: Soup
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Swedish
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 210
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 420mg
- Fat: 4g
- Saturated Fat: 1g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 32g
- Fiber: 12g
- Protein: 16g
- Cholesterol: 25mg
