Mason jar split pea soup with rice
Meal prep is easy when you make this mason jar split pea soup with rice. Assembled ahead of time, all you have to do to prepare this vegan (also nistisimo) and gluten-free soup is add water and cook until done. Nothing could be easier, or more delicious!
Growing up with Greek immigrant parents, whose priority was providing their family with nutritious, filling meals, inexpensively, I ate a lot of beans! In particular, most of the soups I enjoyed as a child were bean based. Delicious traditional Greek soups like fakies (Greek lentil soup), fasolatha (Greek white kidney bean soup) and psilofasola (Greek mung bean soup) filled my belly.
With all this bean soup experience, it was pretty easy to think about creating a mason jar soup using dried legumes as a base. Of course, the mason jar part of the recipe is optinal. This is simply a fun and easy way to meal prep. Gather your ingredients, prepare 2, 3 or as many jars of the soup mix as you like, and when it is time to cook, just add water!
Inspiration for this recipe
A few years ago, one of my colleagues gifted me a mason jar soup mix that she had made using a recipe from the amazing blog Trois Fois Par Jour. It was a pretty combination of lentils and barley that was meant to be cooked with water and a can of diced tomatoes. The soup mix sat in the pantry for a few weeks and then, one evening when dinner was getting a late start, into the pot it went. Dinner prep took a total of 3 minutes.
Given the ease that came with that lovely jar of soup, I would have been happy if it tasted just meh. But it didn’t. It was actually delicious. So delicious that I asked for the recipe and made several jars myself. I tucked them away in the pantry, and trust me when I say that they have saved supper more than a few times.
Ever since, I have fallen in love with the idea of developing my own mason jar soup mix, and I finally did. I think that I have come up with a soup mix that is as delicious as it is pretty. The perfect gift to give, and the perfect dinner solution to have handy! Also, I may be biased, but I think my soup is even better than the soup that inspired it!
Why you should try this recipe
If you like easy, then this mason jar split pea soup with rice is for you! Not only is it easy to assemble with simple ingredients, but it is also easy to prepare. Ready to eat, just add water!
It is nutritious! There is nothing but goodness in this soup. Split peas, rice and seasonings make it perfect.
It is vegan, so also perfect for Orthodox Lent. This is type of dairy-free, egg-free, and meat-free recipe that we need during times of fasting or nistea. If you are looking for more ideas for lent by the way, take a look at my lastest meal plan or selection of Nistisima Recipes.
Key ingredients
You only need a few, pantry-stable and simple ingredients to make this delicious soup.
Arborio rice I love to use arborio rice in this soup because it makes the soup nice and creamy.
Yellow split peas So delicious. These are the same peas that I use when I make my traditional Greek dip called fava. This soup is another wonderful way to enjoy them!
Green split peas I love split green peas. They are slightly sweet and so delicious.
Vegetable broth powder I like to use vegetable broth powder because then, all I have to do is add water to make the soup, as opposed to making sure that I have vegetable broth handy.
Dry parsley Honestly, I really like dry parsley. Although fresh is usually best, it is obviously not possible to use it to make this mason jar soup mix. The dry parsley however works really well and tastes great.
Onion powder A great flavour addition. Mild onion flavour which is perfect for this soup.
Tumeric I add tumeric because I like the colour it gives to the soup, and of course, it is all the rage for its health benefits, so why not!
Dry mustard A bit unusual perhaps in soup, but I just love dry mustard. It is a bit peppery in flavour, and I really enjoy it.
Bay leaf A few bay leaves are added for some added flavour.
Salt & pepper Basic seasonings make everything better!
Ingredient substitutions
You can certainly use a different kind of rice. I like arborio because it is creamy, but you can use any short, medium or long grain rice. The texture of your soup will be different, but it will still be lovely. You can even use brown rice, quinoa or a small pasta. Cooking times will vary.
I like to keep this soup vegan, and that way it is also perfect for Orthodox lent. However, if you want to, you can use chicken or beef stock powder. You can also use a bouillon cube instead of the powder.
You can use only yellow split peas or only green split peas. You can also use lentils or mung beans instead. The total amount of your beans should remain the same.
I love the flavour from the spices that I use, but you can certainly change that up if you prefer. Add whatever seasonings you like!
How to make it
Nothing is simpler than making this soup, honestly! If you have already prepared all the ingredients in a mason jar, simply add everything to a large pot, add water and cook until everything is cooked through, stirring regularly.
If you have not prepared this soup mix in mason jars, then making this soup will take a little longer as you measure out your ingredients, but still super simple!
Be sure to stir the soup well as it cooks because you don’t want anything to stick to the bottom of the pot.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use only yellow or green split peas?
Sure. I love the combination of the two, both for the flavour and the way that the soup mix looks in the jar, but you can decide to use only one variety of split pea. Keep in mind however that this may impact the cooking time, as the yellow split peas cook quicker than the green split peas do.
Can I use chicken or beef powdered stock instead of the vegetable one?
For sure you can. I prefer to keep this soup vegan and therefore perfect for periods of Orthodox Lent, but you can substitute chicken or beef stock if you prefer.
How long does this soup mix stay fresh in the mason jar?
I have kept soup jar mixes in the pantry for a few months and they have been perfectly fine. It’s important to note any expiration or best before dates on the ingredients that you use though (ex. the powdered vegetable stock). As the soup mix sits, you may find that the spices clump together and it is difficult to pour the contents of the jar into the pot. If his happens simply break the soup mix apart with a spoon or add a bit of water to shake things up.
Helpful hints
Of course, you don’t have to prepare this soup mix ahead of time in a mason jar in order to enjoy this soup. It does make meal prep super easy, but it is not necessary!
If you have stored your soup in a mason jar you may notice that the spices get really hard and compacted. That is just fine. If it makes it hard to get the contents of your soup out of the jar, then simply swirl some water around the jar and loosen everything up before pouring into the pot.
When you buy your legumes, make sure that you buy them from a place that has a good turnover of dry legumes and beans. Although they do not go bad per se, really old beans and pulses can get infested with bugs, and can take a really long time to cook.
The cooking time listed is an estimate. Check your soup for doneness because the split peas may take longer, or shorter to cook.
Finally, as you stir your soup, especially near the end of cooking time, add more liquid if you need to.
Related recipes
Greek Chickpea soup, Revithosoupa (Ρεβιθόσουπα)
Fide soup (Fithe soup) (Σούπα φιδέ)
Fasolatha, Greek white bean soup (Φασολάδα)
Fakes (Lentil soup) – (Φακές)
We love hearing from you! If you have made our recipes, or if you have a question or comment, or simply want to say Hi!, please leave a comment below!
Storing
If you do assemble the ingredients into a mason jar or other container, make sure that it is well sealed. The soup mix will keep for several months in a cool dry place.
Once you have prepared your soup, simply store leftovers in the refrigerator for several days.
Pin this recipe if you like it!
Recipe
Mason jar split pea soup with rice
Equipment
- 500 ml mason jar with lid optional if you want to meal prep
- large pot
Ingredients
To prepare mason jar soup mix
- 3/4 cup green split peas
- 1/2 cup arborio rice
- 1/2 cup yellow split peas
- 2 tbsp vegetable broth powder
- 1 tbsp dry parsley
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp tumeric
- 1/2 tsp dry mustard
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
- 2 bay leaves
To prepare soup
- 12 cups (96 ounces) water
Instructions
To prepare the mason jar soup mix
- Prepare a 500 ml mason jar by ensuring that it is clean and completely dry.
- Add all of the ingredients listed above, in the order in which they are listed. Store in pantry or in a cool dark place until ready to use.3/4 cup green split peas, 1/2 cup arborio rice, 1/2 cup yellow split peas, 2 tbsp vegetable broth powder, 1 tbsp dry parsley, 1 tsp onion powder, 1 tsp tumeric, 1/2 tsp dry mustard, 1 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp ground black pepper, 2 bay leaves
To prepare soup
- In a large pot combine all of the ingredients in the mason jar with 12 cups of cold water.12 cups (96 ounces) water
- Bring to a boil and then reduce heat to a medium heat and cook for 60 – 90 minutes, until the split peas are cooked through. The green split peas will take much longer to cook than the yellow split peas.
- While your soup is cooking, stir it regularly. Be sure to stir your soup frequently during the last 30 or so minutes of cooking time. As your soup thickens, it risks sticking to the bottom of your pot. Add more hot water if your soup becomes too thick for your liking.
- Once cooked, allow to sit off the heat for approximately 30 minutes; this helps enhance the flavours. Reheat before serving if required.
- Enjoy!
These do make lovely gifts!
They really do! Thanks Dorothy!!
Any idea if you can sub red lentils for the yellow split peas for more of a Christmas theme look in the jar? Any idea if the amount to use and if making that substitution would change cooking times?
Hi there! That would be a lovely variation. We would stick with the same amount, and wouldn’t even change the cooking time! Enjoy. xoxo Helen & Billie
WE DON’T HAVE ML MASON CANNING JARS HERE, JUST 16 OZ/PINT OR 32 OZ/QUART What size should I use?
Sorry, caps were on
Hi Carol, For this soup mix you can really use any type of container, so long as it seals well. You are not processing the soup mix, so using a mason jar is not a necessity. Hope that helps! xoxo Helen & Billie