How To Make Split Pea Soup Mix in a Jar

Benefits of Three Layer Split Pea Soup Mix

• super easy to assemble
• minimal ingredients
• super affordable
• gluten free (check your bouillon)
• vegan (check your bouillon)
• high in plant protein & fibre
• easy to prepare

It’s great to have on hand as an easy pantry meal for your family. But it’s also perfect when you want to give someone else the gift of an easy meal they can prepare whenever they choose.

WHERE CAN I FIND THE INGREDIENTS?

The good news is that split peas, seasoning and bouillon powder/cubes used in this soup can be found in just about every major grocery store. Look in the dried bean aisle for the peas and the spice aisle for the seasoning and bouillon. Sometimes the bouillon is in the soup section.

A bulk food store should have a great selection as well – especially if you have specific needs for your bouillon.

WHAT TYPE OF CONTAINERS?

Jars:

Use recycled jars! You’ll need a pint/2 cup/500ml sized jar for this soup. Old salsa or pickle jars work great. You do not need canning jars, but if that’s what you have, use them! Anything with a tight sealing lid will work.

Seasoning Baggy:

I found some little pill sized zipper baggies at a dollar store to put my spices in.

As an alternative lay out some plastic wrap, make a pile of spices and wrap tightly. Works just as well without having to find the perfect size baggy. You could also wrap your seasoning in parchment or wax paper.

Bags for Soup Mix:

If you’re shipping these soup mixes, you’ll want to avoid glass jars. I use plastic bags instead of jars when I’m sending my soup mixes. I use non-zip storage bags from the grocery store. If those aren’t a good size, check your local craft supply store for more options. Try not to jostle them too much and seal them tight with a twist tie so your layering will stay in place.

BOUILLON OPTIONAL

When making soup, there are several options for tasty broth or stock. You can use homemade stock, bouillon powder, bouillon cubes, bouillon paste, canned broth or stock in tetra packs. Which is your favourite? What do you usually use at home? I usually make my own stock or use bouillon paste (I like Better than Bouillon). I only use powdered bouillon when I’m going camping.

There is no right or wrong, just personal preference. But because everyone has their own preference on this matter, I sometimes leave it up to the soup maker to decide what to use. In the recipe instructions I will include soup stock in the Also Needed list. As for how much: I use the amount of water added to the soup. So in this Split Pea Soup Mix I would recommend 5 cups Soup Stock and in the Instructions I would write: Add peas and spices in pot with five cups of stock.

But, if you want this mix to be complete, add the bouillon powder as indicated in the recipe. Double check the ratio of water to powder with your brand of bouillon.

How Long Does this Soup Mix Last?

Dried soup mixes like this, if kept airtight in a dry, cool space, will last for several years. As with any pantry food, it’s best to use and rotate through them within 12 months for best flavour and quality, even if they will be safe for many years.

The longer you keep this soup on the shelf, the drier those split peas become and the longer it will take to cook them. The soup will be safe and delicious, but it will take longer to cook.

Fun Facts about Split Peas

Dried peas have been enjoyed since 2000 BC! In fact, fresh garden peas weren’t something people ate until the 16th century. Here are some more fun facts about dried peas. By the way, they split naturally.

VERY NUTRITIOUS

Split peas are a great source of plant based proteins and fibre. A 1/2 cup of cooked split peas contains about 115 calories, 8 grams of protein, and 8 grams of fiber. They are also a good source of folate, iron, and potassium.

QUICK COOKING

Split peas cook a little quicker than most other pulses.

DIFFERENT COLOURS

We’re using both yellow and green split peas in this soup, just for the colour effect. You can absolutely use just green or just yellow split peas. They are just different varieties of field peas. They are very similar in nutrient content, cooking time and flavour.

I like using more yellow split peas because the final soup color is more attractive – more golden than faded green/gray.

STORE WELL

Dried peas, like other dried pulses, store well in a dry, dark cupboard for years. That said, it’s always best to rotate through your pantry items within 12 months. And be aware, the older peas and beans get, the longer they take to cook.

DO YOU HAVE A PRINTABLE LABEL?

Yes! You can print the Pea Soup Mix Label. Find more labels in my Free Resource section.

MORE SOUP MIXES

• Vegetable Quinoa and Lentil Soup Mix
• Garden Vegetable Soup Mix
• Bean Soup Mix
• Chicken Noodle Soup Mix 
• Onion Soup Mix – use for soup, dips or as seasoning