I’m so happy that this soup is so easy to make and I don’t have to get any complicated, hard to find ingredients from the Netherlands. Just a delicious filling and healthy, hearty winter soup. The Dutch Split Pea Soup! For Americans it must be a very strange combination, but the Dutch crepe-like pancakes can be eaten sweet or savory. Keep reading, because they are delicious!
For a super yummy twist on this soup, try the The Indian Dahl Soup.
I have to admit, “Erwtensoep” wasn’t my favorite soup when I grew up in the Netherlands. I always picked the sausage pieces out first and slurped the soup very slowly.
Where does Split Pea Soup come from?
Split Pea soup has a long history. It might have started in Asia, but it was definitely known in the Greek civilization at about 500 BC. In the Netherlands, the first recipe was found from 16th century. The Dutch Split Pea Soup is thicker than the American, Australian, Canadian or Indian one.
Ingredients other than water and split peas, could be stock (any kind), carrots, onion, leek and celeriac. Adding a potato will make the soup even thicker.
A winter soup in the Netherlands
Something I didn’t know is, that if the soup is a leftover for the next day, it changes its name. The soup is not called “Erwtensoep” anymore. but “Snert”. I’m not sure if this is true, but we never called it “snert”, always “erwtensoep”.
A lot of times we ate this soup in combination with a pancake with cheese and apples. In the Netherlands, pancakes are not only for breakfast and can be eaten with sweet or savory toppings. My favorite “sweet” pancake was cheese, apple slices and “appelstroop” and my savory one I had in Amsterdam once, is with spinach, brie and cashew nuts. Sounds weird, right! But try it, you’ll be pleasantly surprised!
We used to eat “erwtensoep” in a bowl with “rookworst” (a spiced, smoked sausage) and bits of bacon in combination with a Dutch pancake with apples and melted cheese. We were full for the night. No room for dessert!
My kids are not really picky eaters, but some things they just do NOT like. I always let them try new foods. Sometimes I wait a few weeks and try again. I was surprised that J. LOVES Sauerkraut. K and M do NOT like it at all!
Good news: THEY ALL LOVE SOUP! So it is nice to have some variety and especially for busy parents to make easy crock pot, Dutch Oven full meal soups.
Enjoy these recipes!
Dutch Split Pea Soup
Erwtensoep is the Dutch name for Split Pea Soup. It is so delicious on a cold winter day. The base ingredients are water/stock and split peas. You can add your favorite ingredients to this soup. The Dutch like to have “Rookworst” or smoked sausage with this soup.
Ingredients
- 2 cups split peas
- 4 cups water
- 2 cubes beef or vegetable bouillon
- 2 bay leaves
- 2 leeks
- 1 carrot
- 1 celeriac
- 1 handful celery
- 1 smoked sausage or any kind of vegetarian sausages
Instructions
-
If using a crock pot, put all the ingredients, except for the sausage in the pot and turn on high for 6 hours
-
If using a Dutch Oven or normal pot on the stove, fill it up with the water, add bouillon cubes and split peas and bay leaves. Bring to a boil, turn the heat down and let it simmer for 20 minutes.
-
Cut the vegetables up and add them to the soup. Let it simmer for 25 minutes more.
-
Take the bay leaves out and serve with the smoked sausage. It is not necessary to blend the soup, but I always do….mainly for the kids.
Dutch Pancakes
These days I make American pancakes sometimes on a Saturday morning and Dutch Pancakes sometimes for lunch during the week, when the kids have a day off. They experiment with different kinds of toppings.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups flour
- 3 eggs
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 3 cups milk
- 1/2 tsp butter for frying every pancake
Instructions
-
Whisk all the ingredients (except the butter) in a big bowl. The batter is more liquid than the American pancake batter.
-
Melt 1/2 tsp butter in a frying pan. Swirl around 1 ladle of pancake batter. Heat on low heat until the top of the pancake dries up. Flip the pancake until it's golden brown on both sides.
-
The toppings are endless. If you choose for a savory option with bacon, chicken or vegetable, be sure to fry everything beforehand. See topping options under "NOTES".
Recipe Notes
Sweet Pancake Toppings:
- sliced apples (fry them in the pan first and add the batter on top)
The toppings below you can add after the pancake is ready or serve toppings in separate bowls, so everyone can choose. Pancake Party, anyone???
- banana
- mango
- yogurt
- raisins
- any kinds of jam or fruit compote
- whipped cream
- ice cream
- chocolate spread
- “appelstroop”
Savory Pancake Toppings:
- ham or bacon
- cheese – brie – gorgonzola – goat cheese (with drizzle of honey)
- spinach
- pine nuts – almonds slivers – cashews
- smoked chicken – deli chicken or turkey
- fried egg
- smoked salmon
- onion – bell pepper – zucchini
I usually fry the bacon/ham or vegetables in the pan first, pour the batter over them until the top is dry, flip the pancake and add cheese so it can melt. When the pancake is on the plate, then I put nuts on top and a drizzle of honey.
Smakelijk eten!!!
Hello everyone,
Welcome to my Crafty Dutch Girl blog! Grab a cup of “koffie” and browse through fun blog posts about our Dutch family expat life in the USA, Dutch history, Dutch recipes, Dutch things to do in the USA and all kinds of crafts and activities. Don’t forget to connect with me for new ideas! “Groetjes en tot ziens”.