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Andersons' Pea Soup

This recipe comes from the famous Andersen family. Somewhere down the line...it's been referred to as Andersen's Pea Soup. I looked this up online and now I realize it's been around for years. I still remember my mother in law coming home saying that she had the recipe to Andersen's Famous Pea Soup. We love this recipe and on a cold day, there's nothing better than a hot bowl of soup, which brings a spirit of wholesome family warmth around the table.

Ingredients
  • 8 cups of water
  • 2 cups green split peas
  • 1 stalk of celery chopped
  • 1 large carrot chopped
  • 1 small onion chopped
  • 1/2 pound farmer sausage
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground thyme
  • 1 pinch of cayenne
  • 1 bay leaf
  • salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
  1. Fill the pot with water, add bay leaf and bring to a boil.
  2. Add split peas and boil hard for 20 minutes, then turn heat down until peas are tender.
  3. It suggests to strain through fine sieve and reheat to boiling point. I skip this process.
  4. Add celery, carrots and onion to pot and continue to simmer slowly for 1 hour.
  5. Add about 1/2 pound farmer sausage.
  6. Add spices.
  7. Add extra boiling water if it becomes to thick.
I do not strain my soup as I love the chunky peas the way they are and it becomes quite tender while adding the other ingredients to the stock.
I love to add farmer sausage or bacon to this soup. It just adds that extra smoked flavor.
I served it for supper tonight and the bowls were all licked empty, once again.

21 comments:

  1. Oh, my, providence has smiled on my. I still remember my visit to Pea Soup Andersen's (I think that was the name) in southern California. I was supposed to try a new recipe for pea soup yesterday, but got busy. I've got my ham bone and THIS is the one I'm making. Thank you so much for the memories.

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  2. I've also been to Pea Soup Andersons and have been making this recipe for years! It's the best one out there I think but I've increased the amount of veggies they suggest and puree the base before I add any farmer sausage or ham. So delicious!

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  3. Looks wonderful..is cold here, soup would be just the thing!

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  4. I have had a real craving for Pea soup as of late, and this recipe will go on my next weeks menu plan for sure! It looks really good.

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  5. I make a similar soup with a ham bone and I also have to triple the carrots, one of my boys requests extra carrots every time.

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  6. I can't tell you how many times we've driven past Andersons on our treks from Southern California to Washington. Yesterday my sister and I had lunch and she had the split pea soup. Yours looks so good and hearty Marg. Split peas will have to go on my shopping list...

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  7. Just letting you know...I always add more vegetables like carrots and celery to most of my soups...I love a thick soup, so you can double the amount of vegetables and survive quite heartily.

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  8. I live 17 miles away from Andersen's restaraunt, and My Auntie worked there for many years. I'm going to try your version soon:)

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  9. We love split pea soup around here, but I do like it strained, so we do that. I can't think of too many soups that are better than this one.

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  10. I CAN TESTE THE ANDERSON PEA SOUP IS A COMFORT FOR THE SOUL ON THIS COLD YANUARY DAY'S THANK YOU FOR THE MEMORIES.BLESSINGS...SANDRA

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  11. after a chilly day like today, this soup looks like it would be just the thing! does it prepare well a few days/a day in advance?

    thank you for posting! i love your site :)
    -meg
    @http://clutzycooking.blogspot.com
    @http://myscribblednotebook.blogspot.com

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  12. Love soup and this bowl full looks wonderful!

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  13. I remember going to Andersen's Pea Soup so many years ago and having my first taste of pea soup there. I thought it was so delicious. Thanks for sharing the recipe.

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  14. I made the soup tonight, but I made it vegetarian! Didn't have any farmer sausage, did have a vegetarian daughter, so I switched out the meat for some hickory smoke! Added a few shakes of that and wow, was it ever delish! You would never know that we hadn't added Rempel's sausage! And zero fat! My picky teenaged vegetarian even loved it. Red letter day!

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  15. Hmm, I come from Anderson's, had lots of pea soup but never this one. No wonder everyone asked me if my last name was SEN or SON. They were really after the soup recipe.

    Haha. Gonna' so make this one. I love pea soup!

    Question. Wondering if you ever came across a pea soup that was made with fresh peas, chicken stock and dumplings. Maybe something else too, I don't know. An old boyfriend's grandmother made this once and it was so fantastic that I have been on the hunt for the recipe ever since (30 years!!!)

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  16. Thanks for your comments. Is anyone familiar with Christine's question?
    Wondering if you ever came across a pea soup that was made with fresh peas, chicken stock and dumplings?

    I'd invite your comments.

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  17. use chicken or turkey stock for the water. even better! and I use marjoram instead of thyme like Mom did. also adding a can of little LeSeur peas at the end makes for a delightful "pop" in each mouthful.

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  18. This looks so good and I am going to make it today!
    Thanks!

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  19. Well I made it as per instructions. But, even though i kept the lid on after the first 20 minute of "boil hard", the water completely evaporated. So I added more. The taste was weak, so the soup was not a hit with my family. I had to look up how many cups is 2 quarts (found out it is 8 cups). Maybe next time, i should try starting with 12 cups of chicken stock or my mom would likely suggest boiling with a ham bone. Or maybe I should have had the lid on right from the very beginning. Oh well, I'll try again another time.

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  20. I have been making this for years... absolutely love it
    I add farmer's sausage that I have sliced and fried ... have friends who ask for it all the time...
    Freezes well for lunches too if any is left over...

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  21. I must tell you my husband's story about Pea Soup Anderson's. Years ago, before we even met, (we've been married 49 years) he and his brother went there for lunch and ordered a sandwich each, which included a bowl of Split Pea Soup. When they finished the first bowl they were asked if they'd like another one and of course they said yes! By the time they'd finished that and their sandwiches came, they were too full to eat the sandwiches. I doubt they offer a second bowl now. We love split pea soup and this version will be on our meal plan for next week!

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