Homemade Comfort Pea Soup with Croutons

Name: Homemade Comfort Pea Soup with Croutons
Cook time: 50 min
Total time: 70 min
Ingredients: 4 cups chicken broth (or vegetable broth); 14 oz green peas, (fresh or frozen, 2.5 cups); 3 medium potatoes, (peeled and cubed (10oz)); ½ yellow onion, (minced); 2 cloves garlic, (minced); 1 Tbsp ghee or butter; ½ tsp ghee or butter; 1 tsp salt; ⅓ tsp black pepper; ⅓ cup heavy cream; 1 Tbsp dill, (chopped for serving); 6 oz white bread, (ideally a day or two old); 1 Tbsp olive oil; salt, (to taste)

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This bright green delicious simple pea soup with crispy croutons makes an elegant dish for springtime. It’s flavorful, creamy, and nutritious, and will become one of your favorite recipes for pea soup!

pea-soup-in-a-white-bowl-with-croutons-peas-and-dill-on-top-with-croutons-in-a-bowl-with-a-white-towel-a-spoon-and-peas-on-the-side

Raise your hand if you’ve got a bag of frozen peas in your freezer and you have no idea what to do with it! I’ve got good news for you. Take that bag of frozen peas and turn it into pea soup. If you didn’t know what to make for dinner, now you do! It’s the perfect last-minute meal idea since it comes together fairly quickly, and easily.

When most people hear “pea soup,” they think of the soup that’s made using dried green split peas. And split pea soup is one of my favorite soups! But then it occurred to me that I could make an entirely different soup, using fresh peas or frozen peas.

Table of Contents

5 Reasons why you should make Pea Soup from frozen peas

It’s convenient: You probably already have the main ingredients for this vegetable soup or you can get them quickly at the grocery store.
It’s an easy and simple recipe to make. You saute your ingredients, add in your frozen peas, and puree the soup. Add in your cream, and you’re done. Easy peasy!
You probably always have a bag of frozen peas at home. If you’re anything like me, you will always have at least one bag of frozen peas in your freezer. And sometimes, you just run out of ideas about what to do with them. Next time remember two words: PEA SOUP.
It makes for a healthy dinner for the entire family to enjoy. I’m pretty sure it’s the vibrant colors that get my kids on board to try this soup. But it’s the flavors of this hearty soup that make them stay. Onions, garlic, chicken (or vegetable) broth, and dill all add delicious flavors that go really well together.
The fresh croutons add a yummy crunch: I love serving this pea soup with easy homemade croutons that are made with three simple ingredients:1-2 day old bread, olive oil, and Salt

You’ll absolutely love this fresh pea soup made from frozen peas! A comforting bowl of soup is all you need to keep you warm on a chilly spring evening or for those cold winter months. This classic vegetable soup is hearty enough to have as a complete meal all on its own.

Key Ingredients

homemade comfort pea soup ingredients with labels garlic salt pepper chicken broth potatoes heavy cream butter dill onion peas bread and olive oil.

Chicken or vegetable broth: Makes a perfect base for thick, rich, and hearty soups soup. It’s delicious and adds nutrients and chicken flavoring to the soup.

Green peas: The main ingredient in this delicious soup.

Potatoes: Helps to thicken the soup.

Yellow onion: When you saute yellow onions they build flavor as a soup base and make a delicious flavor when combined with garlic.

Garlic cloves: Adds an instant, welcoming, mild and subtle flavor to the soup.

Dill: Fresh herbs are a great way to garnish the soup as they give it a punch of flavor.

Along with those ingredients, you will need ghee or butter, salt, black pepper, and heavy cream.

For the croutons, all you will need is olive oil, bread, and sea salt.

Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.

How to make Pea Soup with Croutons

Step 1: Saute onions and garlic

Melt ghee in a large soup pot over medium heat. Add minced onion and sauté for 2 minutes until softened. Then add garlic, sauté for 30 seconds, stirring until fragrant. Do not brown.

sautéing chopped onion and garlic in a black cast iron.

Step 2: Add chicken broth and potatoes

Add chicken broth and potatoes. Bring to a gentle simmer for 15 minutes, or until potatoes are cooked.

chicken broth and potatoes added to onion and garlic in large soup pot.

Step 3: Prepare croutons

In the meantime, prepare bread croutons. Preheat the oven to 375°F. Cut the bread into 1/3-inch small cubes or chunks.

cut up bread into cube pieces on a wooden cutting board with small knife.

Step 4: Place croutons on a baking sheet

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper then place cubed bread croutons in a single layer on top. Drizzle with olive oil and some salt then use your hands to toss to coat the bread cubes evenly.

bread-pieces-on-a-baking-tray-with-a-small-bowl-of-salt-and-a-glass-dish-of-olive-oil

Step 5: Bake croutons

Bake for 15-20 min ensuring you turn them halfway through. Bake until light golden brown and crispy. Set aside to cool.

Step 6: Make charred peas for topping

Place a cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Melt 1/2 tsp ghee, add 4 tbsp peas, and let it cook for 2-3 minutes stirring occasionally. Add a little bit of salt and pepper to taste.

peas-in-a-skillet-on-a-wooden-board-with-two-small-white-bowls-on-the-side

Step 7: Finish off the soup

When the potatoes are soft add green peas, salt, and pepper. Stir together and cook for 5 more minutes.

pea-soup-cooking-in-a-soup-pot-with-two-small-bowls-on-the-side

Step 8: Make the soup creamy

Use an immersion blender or stand blender to puree the soup until smooth while still maintaining a nice texture. Add heavy cream and stir. Taste and add more salt and a few grinds of pepper if needed.

pea-soup-in-a-soup-pot-being-blended-with-an-immersion-blender

Step 9: Garnish and serve soup

Ladle soup into a soup plate or large bowl and garnish with charred peas, dill, and crispy croutons.

pea-soup-cooking-in-a-soup-pot-with-a-wooden-spoon-and-a-small-bowl-of-salt-on-the-side

How to store leftover pea soup

Store the soup tightly covered, in the refrigerator for up to 5 days
You can freeze the cool soup in ziplock bags or freezer-safe containers for 2-3 months. Thaw soup in the refrigerator for 12 hours and then reheat it on the stovetop over medium heat until hot. The soup will thicken once cool, so thin with water and adjust seasoning as necessary.

Expert Tips

Bake the croutons until they are just crispy but not rock hard.
Pea soup thickens as it cools especially after you refrigerate it. To bring it back to its original consistency, thin it out with a splash of water or chicken broth when reheating.
When making creamy soups, work in batches. Transfer the soup to a blender and blend until smooth
When freezing the soup in ziplock bags, remove all of the air first so that it lasts much longer in the freezer without getting frost burn.

Recipe FAQs

How long should I bake homemade croutons?

Preheat the oven to 375°F. Cut the bread into 1/3 inch chunks. Spread out on a baking sheet, drizzle with olive oil and some salt. Toss to coat the bread cubes evenly. Bake for 15-20 min.

What does the cream do in Pea Soup?

The cream makes the soup silky, creamy and smooth.

What is the difference between butter and ghee?

Butter is butterfat vs ghee is taken a step further through a process where water and milk is removed. Depending on your dietary needs, ghee could be a healthier option.

What else can l serve this with besides homemade croutons

If you want to skip the croutons, you can grab your favorite crunchy toast or homemade bread instead.

Can l use chicken stock or vegetable stock in this recipe?

Yes, you can but l recommend chicken broth or vegetable broth because it’s lighter, thinner, and more flavorful than stock making it a perfect soup base.

More soup recipes to try out at home:

Vegan and Dairy Free Ginger and Carrot Soup is a simple, delicious, and healthy recipe that will quickly become a favorite in your home.
Make dairy free soups at home with these 4 Dairy Free Soup Recipes!

Other Tasty Soup Recipes to Make

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