Spicy Split Pea Soup- All Vegetarian/ Vegan Version

A wonderful split pea soup, and you do not miss the bacon or ham:) My son loved it. I never liked this soup, so I decided to make one with spices I like and also wanted to keep it healthy. I'm trying out new recipes for health, but they must also taste great! I forgot to buy celery so I used some celery salt. and I had to separate the soup at the end because my husband does not like hot spicy foods, ( the garlic and onion ok) . My son and I loved it with the cayenne and cracked red pepper! I would have liked to cook it longer with these spices.

• Ready In: 1 hr 10 mins
• Serves: 6

Ingredients

• 2  cups  split peas
• 2  cups sweet onions
• 2  tablespoons fresh garlic
• 1  carrot
• 2  tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 6  cups  vegetables or 6  cups chicken broth
• 1  dash  celery salt
• 1⁄2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1⁄4 teaspoon  ground thyme
• 1  teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
• 1⁄4 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper (optional)
•  fresh ground pepper

Directions

1. I could not enter how to prepare ingredients, it would not accept and include for nutrition data, so instructions for preparing are:
2. dice vegetables, carrot I used one large carrot diced, I used 1 large onion diced probably 2 cups or more, and diced garlic.
3. Place 2 T Extra Virgin Olive Oil in saute/ or fry pan on medium heat.
4. Add 1 diced onion,and the diced carrot cook over medium heat until onions are translucent 3-5 minutes, do not brown.
5. Add diced garlic in middle of pan, push aside onion and saute about 1 minute until translucent, watch carefully do not overcook or brown garlic.
6. Clean split peas in strainer with water, remove any discolored peas.
7. Add peas to a large stockpot.
8. Add 6 cups vegetable or chicken broth to stockpot.
9. Add cooked onions, carrots and garlic to stockpot.
10. Add spices celery salt, cumin, thyme, crushed red pepper and cayenne pepper and fresh ground pepper.
11. Bring all to a boil then cover and simmer over low heat for 30-60 minutes.