Split Pea Soup

Vegetarian split pea soup is easy to make and can be just as flavorful as the kind made with ham.
Yield	4-6 servings
Time	1 hour
Tools	Dutch oven or large saucepan Wooden spoon Sauté pan
Ingredients	2 c dry split peas, rinsed 6-8 c vegetable stock and/or water 2 T olive oil 4 oz smoked tofu, diced 1 large onion (2 c), chopped 1 carrot, chopped or grated (save a bit for garnish) 2-4 cloves garlic, minced 1 t rosemary, minced 2 t pepper 1 t salt
Directions	Place the peas and 6 c stock in the Dutch oven over high heat. Bring to a boil, lower heat, and partially cover. Meanwhile, heat the oil and sauté the tofu, onion, and carrot for about 10 minutes, until tofu is golden and onions are somewhat translucent. Add the garlic and rosemary and sauté for another 5 minutes. Add the tofu mixture to the peas along with the salt and pepper. Simmer for another 40 minutes or so, until the peas are mushy and falling apart. If at any point the soup seems too dry, add more stock. Serve hot, with croutons, bread, or crackers.
Notes	If you like a thick, hearty soup, you can purée some or all of it.
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