Thai split pea soup made with freshly ground tom yum paste is a comforting, hearty and spicy recipe. This is a great 1 pot dish that can easily be made in an Instant pot recipe or a pressure cooker. A delicious dish to make on a weeknight.
This post contains affiliate links to Amazon and other sites. I will earn a commission from qualifying purchases through those links. This blog generates income via ads. Click here to read my affiliate links policy.
A bowl of hot soup is such a comforting meal on chilly winter days. I love making hearty and filling soups like this Burmese samosa thouk and this asparagus lentil soup. Today’s Thai pea soup fits that bill perfectly.
This delicious lentil soup is made with coconut milk and a freshly ground spice paste. It is creamy, spicy, tangy and sweet – all at the same time. Most of the ingredients needed for this recipe are easily available in well stocked grocery stores. Or you will need to make a quick trip to an Asian grocery.
All of the flavor in this curry split pea soup comes from the spice paste. Thai ingredients add an amazing punch to the dish.
Instant pot or a stove-top pressure cooker makes this recipe quick and easy. Make the spice paste over the weekend and keep it ready in the fridge. So when you are ready to make the soup, you only need about 10 minutes of hands on time. And in less than 40 minutes, you will have an amazing meal ready.
Ingredients
The ingredients needed to make the spice paste are:
- lemongrass
- ginger – traditionally galangal is used in Thai recipes. But I use widely available ginger instead. If you can get your hands on galangal, then use it.
- garlic cloves
- chili – either red or green chilies would work
- cilantro leaves and stems
- soy sauce – low sodium preferred
- lime juice
- palm sugar – can be substituted with light or dark brown sugar
Other ingredients you need to make this split pea coconut soup:
- yellow split peas
- onion, carrot
- coconut milk – I prefer full fat, but low fat would work as well
- spinach – I used baby spinach, but you can use regular as well
- salt
Instructions
Start by making the Spice Paste/ Tom Yum base: Combine all the ingredients for the spice paste in a blender jar or a food processor. Blend/ process to a smooth paste. This paste can be stored in the refrigerator for 2 weeks or in the freezer for couple of months.
Make Soup – Instant pot method:
Turn the Instant pot on ‘Sauté’ mode. Add oil and once it heats up add onion and carrot and cook for 3~4 minutes or until the onions turn translucent.
Stir in the ground spice paste and cook for 2 minutes. Next add the rinsed and drained split peas, coconut milk, water and salt. Close the lid of the Instant pot and cook on Manual/ High Pressure for 15 minutes. Make sure that the vent is in sealing position.
Once the time is up, let the pressure release naturally for 15 minutes and then do a Quick pressure release.
Stir in chopped spinach and cilantro. Mix well. The residual heat is enough for the greens to wilt. Taste and adjust the seasoning. Serve hot.
Tips
- You can use store bought tom yum paste or red curry paste instead of making the spice paste to save time.
- Spice paste can be made up to 2 weeks in advance. Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Or you can freeze it for up to 2 months.
- If making the recipe in a pressure cooker, then cook for about 3~4 whistles.
- If cooking in open pot, then bring the mixture to a boil and reduce the heat. Cover and cook for 45 mins ~ 1 hour or until split peas are completely soft.
- This Thai split pea soup can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 days and in the freezer for up to 2 months.
Few more lentil based recipes to try
- Spinach cabbage lentil curry
- Green beans kootu
- Qabooli biryani
- Carrot Patoli
- Thotakoora vadiyala kura
- Ghugni (Bengali Street with dried peas)
I love hearing from you!! If you’ve tried this or any other recipe on the blog, tag in your creations on Instagram @cook_hideout. I love sharing photos when people make my recipes. You can use the hashtag #cookshideout too.
Thai Style Split Pea Soup
Ingredients
For the Curry Paste (Tum Yum paste):
- ¼ cup Lemon grass, roughly chopped*
- 3~4 Garlic cloves
- 1" Ginger piece or galangal
- 1 Fresh red or green chili
- ½ cup Coriander leaves & Stems
- 1 tablespoon Soy sauce, low sodium preferred
- 3 tablespoons Lime juice
- 3 teaspoons Palm sugar or Brown sugar
- 2~3 Spring onions, chopped
For the Soup:
- 1 tablespoon Oil
- 1 Medium Onion, finely chopped
- 1 Large Carrot, peeled and chopped
- 1 16 oz. can Coconut milk
- 1½ cups Split Peas
- 3 cups Water or low sodium vegetable broth
- 3 cups Spinach, roughly chopped
- ½ cup Cilantro, chopped
- To taste Salt
Instructions
Make the Spice Paste/ Tom Yum base:
- Combine all the ingredients for the spice paste in a blender jar or a food processor. Blend/ process to a smooth paste. This paste can be stored in the refrigerator for 2 weeks or in the freezer for couple of months.
Make Soup – Instant Pot Method:
- Turn the Instant pot on 'Saute' mode (default 'Normal' – not high or low). Add oil and once it heats up add onion and carrot and cook for 3~4 minutes or until the onions turn translucent.
- Stir in the ground spice paste and cook for 2 minutes. Next add the rinsed and drained split peas, coconut milk, water and salt.
- Turn off the Sauté function by pressing 'Cancel'.
- Close the lid of the Instant pot and cook on Manual/ High Pressure for 15 minutes. Make sure that the vent is in sealing position.
- Once the time is up, let the pressure release naturally for 15 minutes and then do a Quick pressure release.
- Stir in chopped spinach and cilantro. Mix well. The residual heat is enough for the greens to wilt. Taste and adjust the seasoning. Serve hot.
Notes
- Use about 2-3 ribs of lemon grass to get ¼ cup of coarsely chopped flesh.
- You can use store bought tom yum paste or red curry paste instead of making the spice paste to save time.
- Spice paste can be made up to 2 weeks in advance. Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Or you can freeze it for up to 2 months.
- If making the recipe in a pressure cooker, then cook for about 3~4 whistles.
- If cooking in open pot, then bring the mixture to a boil and reduce the heat. Cover and cook for 45 mins ~ 1 hour or until split peas are completely soft.
- This Thai split pea soup can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 days and in the freezer for up to 2 months.
Cool Lassi(e)
What an amazing looking soup! I want some!
Srivalli
Very pretty picture Pavani..the bowl looks so clear!
Sayantani
love thai food and that definitely looks delicious.
PJ
Delicious and filling soup.Nice clicks…
vidhas
ovley picture and yummy soup. thanks for sharing.
Priya Suresh
Wow wat a comforting and super filling flavourful soup.
The Pumpkin Farm
nice and healthy, didnt know of thai variety
Gayathri's Cook Spot
Very filling soup…
Aarthi
healthy soup
Chitra
Perfect for this weather. cliks are bright:)
vaishali sabnani
Pavani this is so healthy..like the flavors..
Vardhini
Nice click .. Yummy soup.VardhiniCheckout my 200th Post GiveawayEvent: Bake FestEvent: Dish it Out – Soy and Tomatoes
saffronstreaks
soup are always healthy and this one is a sure winetr warmer. loved it
Nalini's Kitchen
healthy and filling soup.
Suma Gandlur
A comfortably filling one. 🙂
Indrani
Healthy and yummy soup, Pavani..nice clicks
Kalyani
very comforting soup 🙂 Do link to my Global Food Fest event if you wish so..Kalyani 200th Post & GiveawayEvent Ends 30th Nov: Flavours of China
Priya Srinivasan
Perfect for the weather!!!!!