This ugly bowl is split pea soup. I have never made anything so bland but do not like adding salt so I need one of you food doctors to provide a non-salt Rx! It is REALLY tasteless!
Mrs. Dash makes a variety of salt free spice mixes that we use. adding chili powder or cayenne pepper makes everything better. I use Tabasco sauce but it has salt in it. Why do you split the peas? Can't you cook them whole?
Thank you Sheldon! I added a bunch of different herbs and spices I have and it taste pretty good now. I am not allergic to salt, but just don't care for it. As far as the peas being split, they came that way in the package. Thailand does have peas but they are very hard, even when cooked, and a have a totally different flavor.
When I make split pea soup, I usually get the green peas rather than the yellowish ones like you used. I don't know if they actually taste better; but they look more like pea soup should look (to me, at least). I usually add a little bit of ham or bacon to add flavor, and I use sea salt, which is much healthier for us. I like adding onions and carrots, a bit of butter, and just before it is done, I put in a can of peas, or some frozen ones to add flavor. I have a lot of bay leaves; so I have been adding a few of those to any soups that I make, and they seem to add a lot of good flavor, too.
I would suggest simply adding some ground pepper. Make it a liberal portion. Oddly enough, some sweeter spices like allspice, nutmeg or cinnamon might work well with split pea soup. It's not a spice, but I find that a really good quality coconut oil adds a really nice flavor to food. Coconut oil is hard at room temperature so it's kind of a butter substitute.
I do have to agree with my wife. Not that she makes agree this time, but because I really do agree. But, there is an addition to ANY pea or bean recipe. If you use some chicken stock to "sweeten" the pot it will also round out the bacon (or streak-o-lean, ham hocks). I always end the whole process with a tblsp or two of butter about an hour before the peas or beans are finished. It creams and helps thicken up the entire recipe and allows all of the flavors to meld. proportions of water and chicken stock..........1qt water and 1/2 pint chicken stock