SubscribeThe quick fix dinner
Many people believe that eating healthy meals requires spending a lot of time cooking every night, but it doesn’t. By preparing vegetables and soups in advance, it can take less than 10 minutes to put a well-balanced and healthy meal on the table. And,nothing beats a cold winter day than a hot cup of soup. Couple it with some steamed vegetables and brown rice, and you have a hearty meal that’s not only healthy, but also low in calories, inexpensive and filling.
One of my favorite soups is Vegetarian Split Pea. Despite the traditional view that good split pea soup requires a big ole ham bone floating in the middle for flavor, it doesn’t.
Garlic, herbs and olive oil will season your split soup to perfection. Best yet – you can make a pot in advance and freeze it in individual portions. Split peas are an excellent source of both fiber and protein and they are also very inexpensive. One small bag of dried split peas costs less than a dollar. Just add seasonings, garlic, an onion, a few potatoes (white and sweet), green, orange or yellow pepper, and some carrots to turn it into a thick, vegetable soup.
Vegetables can be washed, cut and stored in zip-lock bags (for up to a week) and then steamed immediately before serving.
Vegetarian Split Pea Soup
Ingredients
One bag each of dried green and yellow split peas (soak for one hour and then rinse and drain)
5 cups of spring water
One orange, yellow, red or green pepper, diced
one red or yellow onion, diced
3 cloves of fresh garlic, diced
2 medium Yukon Gold potatoes, skinned and diced
2 large sweet potatoes skinned, halved and cut lengthwise into quarters
1/4 cup virgin olive oil
1 tsp sea salt
1 tsp fresh ground black pepper
2 tsp sage
2 tsp cilantro
1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
3 tsp Tamari sauce
1 bag baby carrots
Directions
Bring water to a rolling boil and add split peas, cover and lower heat.
Heat olive oil in a saute pan, and add garlic, onions, peppers, potatoes and carrots.
Saute for 10 minutes. Add fresh parsley and put mixture in the pot with the split peas.
Add remaining ingredients to pot, lower heat and cover.
Simmer covered for 1 hour or until split peas are soft.
Serve over brown rice with a side of steamed vegetables.
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As the mother of five and a journalist, I've always encouraged people to empower themselves with information on healthy foods and lifestyles. Nurturing our children with healthy food is one of the most important jobs we have, yet as families have become busier or drifted apart, meal times have been sacrificed.
