Indian Curried Yellow Split Pea and Coconut Soup
With a mild korma curry flavour, this aromatic soup is made in a slow cooker and puréed with coconut milk once the split peas are tender.
The recipe comes from new cookbook Slow Cooker Vegetarian, by Australian food writer and stylist Katy Holder, who proves that slow cookers aren’t just for stews and casseroles. Published this month, it includes recipes for everything from soups, curries and lasagne, to sticky date pudding (you can find that one here).
“Korma curry powders are milder than many other Indian spice mixes, so this is a great way to introduce aromatic food to your family,” Holder writes. “Add less if your family is still getting used to spiciness.”
Indian curried yellow split pea and coconut soup
Serves 6-8
Preparation time: 20 minutes
Cooking time: 3 hours and 40 minutes
Ingredients
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 brown onions, finely diced
3 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
1 leek, white part only, washed, thinly sliced
1 carrot, diced
1–3 tablespoons korma curry powder
660g (3 cups) yellow split peas, rinsed
2 litres (8 cups) good-quality vegetable stock
300ml coconut milk
45g (1 cup) baby spinach leaves
Juice of 2 limes, or to taste
1 long red chilli, thinly sliced diagonally,
Greek-style yoghurt and coriander (cilantro) leaves, to serve
Method
Heat the olive oil in the insert pan of a slow cooker or a frying pan over medium heat. Add the onion, garlic, leek and carrot and sauté for 5–7 minutes, or until tender. Add the curry powder and stir for 30 seconds, or until aromatic.
Return the insert pan, if using, to the slow cooker, or transfer the vegetable mixture to the slow cooker. Add the split peas and stock. Cover and cook on high for 3½ hours, or until the split peas are very tender.
Stir the coconut milk through. Purée the mixture to a rough consistency, using a stick blender, food processor or blender, leaving some of the soup unpuréed if desired. (You may need to add a little extra coconut milk to reach your desired consistency.)
Stir in the spinach and lime juice, to taste. Season with sea salt and freshly ground black pepper.
Ladle into bowls and serve topped with chilli, yoghurt and coriander.
Image and recipe from Slow Cooker Vegetarian by Katy Holder, Murdoch Books, RRP $29.99. Photography by Alan Benson.
