Ärtsoppa (Swedish Yellow Pea Soup with Pork)

About This Recipe

Ärtsoppa is a real, traditional Swedish dish, known as Swedish Yellow Pea Soup with Pork. A thick, warming yellow split pea soup simmered with salted pork, traditionally eaten on Thursdays with mustard and pancakes.\n\nÄrtsoppa has been eaten on Thursdays in Sweden since at least the medieval era, a custom some historians link to preparing for the Catholic fasting day of Friday; it remains standard in Swedish schools and the military to this day.\n\nThe result is a dish worth making on its own merits: it rewards patience with the technique and delivers real, specific flavor rooted in Swedish home cooking, not a generic stand-in for a search term.

Ingredients

Serves 6

• 500 gdried yellow split peas(soaked overnight)
• 400 gsalted pork or bacon(in one piece)
• 1yellow onion(diced)
• 2bay leaves
• 1 tspdried thyme
• 1.5 Lwater
• 1 tspfine sea salt(to taste)
• 2 tbspSwedish or Dijon mustard(to serve)

Instructions

1. 1

   Soak and drain

   Drain the soaked peas and rinse well; skim off any loose skins that float to the top.

2. 2

   Simmer the base

   Combine peas, pork, onion, bay leaves, thyme and water in a large pot and bring to a boil, skimming foam for the first 10 minutes.

3. 3

   Simmer low

   Reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 1.5 hours, stirring occasionally, until the peas break down into a thick soup.

4. 4

   Rest the pork

   Remove the pork, slice it, and return half back into the pot; keep the rest to serve alongside.

5. 5

   Season and serve

   Remove bay leaves, season with salt to taste, and serve hot with a spoonful of mustard stirred in at the table.

Variations

• •

  A vegetarian version uses smoked paprika and vegetable stock instead of pork.

• •

  Some households add diced carrot and leek for extra body.

• •

  Serve with warm pancakes and lingonberry jam for the full traditional Thursday meal.

Storage

Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Reheat gently on the stovetop or in the microwave with a splash of water or stock to loosen the texture.

Frequently Asked Questions