French Canadian Pea Soup Soupe Aux Pois

Warm your soul with the comforting flavors of French Canadian Pea Soup, or Soupe aux Pois, a hearty classic steeped in tradition. This rustic dish features tender dried yellow peas simmered with savory salt pork or smoky ham hock, aromatic vegetables, and a fragrant blend of thyme and bay leaf for a truly irresistible depth of flavor. Perfect for chilly days, this slow-cooked soup is a delightful balance of rich, creamy textures and rustic charm, with the option to customize its consistency to your liking. Garnished with fresh parsley, it’s a wholesome, one-pot meal that brings the cozy essence of Quebecois cuisine straight to your table. Whether served as an appetizer or a satisfying main dish, this time-honored recipe is an easy, delicious way to celebrate the comforts of homemade cooking.

Nutriscore Rating: 70/100

Prep Time:15 mins

Cook Time:120 mins

Total Time:135 mins

Servings: 6

Ingredients

• 1 lb dried yellow peas
• 8 cups water
• 8 oz salt pork or smoked ham hock
• 1 large onion, diced
• 2 medium carrot, diced
• 2 medium celery stalks, diced
• 3 cloves garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• 1 leaf bay leaf
• 0.5 tsp black pepper
• 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped (optional for garnish)

Directions

Step 1

Rinse the dried yellow peas thoroughly under cold water until the water runs clear. If desired, soak the peas in water for 4 hours or overnight to reduce cooking time.

Step 2

In a large stockpot or Dutch oven, bring the 8 cups of water to a gentle boil over medium-high heat.

Step 3

Add the rinsed yellow peas, salt pork or smoked ham hock, diced onion, diced carrot, diced celery, and minced garlic to the pot.

Step 4

Stir in the dried thyme, bay leaf, and black pepper.

Step 5

Reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer the soup gently for 1.5 to 2 hours, stirring occasionally to prevent the peas from sticking to the bottom of the pot.

Step 6

Remove the salt pork or ham hock from the pot. If using a ham hock, shred the meat into bite-sized pieces, discarding any fat or bone, and return the meat to the soup.

Step 7

Check the consistency of the soup. For a smoother texture, use an immersion blender to partially blend the soup, or leave it as-is for a chunkier texture.

Step 8

Taste the soup and adjust the seasoning, adding salt if necessary (note that the ham or salt pork may already provide enough saltiness).

Step 9

Serve the soup hot, garnished with freshly chopped parsley if desired.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(1029.4g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	2817.8

Total Fat 119.6g	0%
Saturated Fat 46.5g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat g
Cholesterol 158.8mg	0%
Sodium 4750.1mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 304.9g	0%
Dietary Fiber 123.7g	0%
Total Sugars 50.3g
Protein 135.7g	0%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 441.5mg	0%
Iron 23.6mg	0%
Potassium 5563.3mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 37.9%

Protein: 19.1%

Carbs: 43.0%