Sunday, July 7, 2013

Swedish Pea Soup (Ärtsoppa) Recipe


Swedish Pea Soup (Ärtsoppa)

I’ve read somewhere that Swedish pea soup started being served even before the Vikings came into existence. It became the traditional Thursday meal when Sweden converted to Catholicism. Around 1530 Sweden converted to Lutheranism but the soup remained a Thursday meal. Even today restaurants serve this on Thursdays, along with pancake.

Small confession. I didn’t completely follow the recipe below. I added some harissa, which is very un-Swedish, and I left out pork, which is very un-Swedish. It still turned out nice.

Source: delishhh

Ingredients
500g of dried yellow or green peas
300g of boneless cured ham or pork cut into ½ inch cubes
6 -7 cups water
2 yellow onions finely chopped
1 leek finely chopped
1 teaspoon thyme
1 teaspoon marjoram
1 teaspoon white pepper
1 teaspoon of finely chopped ginger
1 tablespoon of Dijon mustard
Salt to taste (depending on your cured meat)


Directions
1.      Soak peas in water over night. Next day rinse them and add to a pot with about 6 cups of water. Bring to boil and boil for 2 minutes and then remove from heat and let stand covered for 1 hour. If there is foam on top remove that.
2.      Dice meat, onion and leek and simmer in a pot for 15 minutes. Add the peas and the rest of the ingredients to the meat and onion mixture, cover and simmer for about 2 hours. After 2 hours add salt to taste.
3.      Serve with mustard.


Swedish Pea Soup (Ärtsoppa)


19 comments:

  1. I haven't had dried pea soup for ages! As I have mentioned, my favourite is with smoked pork. It somehow goes well with peas. And like you I add marjoram (though I add tons of it!). Harissa sounds like an excellent twist. The colour is so bright, I thought at first you have added some turmeric!

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    1. A small secret. The color was quite red and I didn't get the chance to make it again so I did some editing:) Thats cheating because what I made looked quite different from the photo. I didn't even follow the recipe. This recipe/post is a fraud:)

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    2. No! We all edit photos! This colour looks very convincing.

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  2. I never knew there was such a thing as Swedish pea soup. It looks delicious.

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  3. This looks delicious! When I get to the Ss in our Cooking Around the World Adventure, I will make this! Thanks for the SRC inspiration.

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    1. I will curious to see what you make when you reach Y:)

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  4. I love posts where I learn not only a new recipe but a piece of history. I had no idea.

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  5. I am sure with some Harissa this was just fantastic! Nice pick!

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  6. Oh my goodness I cannot believe how delicious this looks. I've never made it (or heard of it) but I believe that needs to change. Soon! Great pick for SRC!

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    Replies
    1. I am sure you will love it, its fairly neutral

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  7. Mmmm, this looks so tasty! Love the harissa addition, sounds amazing!

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  8. I really like pea soup and this recipe sounds wonderful!

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