Hernekeitto (Finnish Pea Soup)
A hearty and traditional Finnish pea soup, typically made with dried yellow peas and pork. It's a staple, especially on Thursdays, and often served with mustard and rye bread.
🧂 Ingredients
- 500 g Dried yellow peas(rinsed and soaked overnight)
- 300 g Pork belly or ham hock(cut into chunks)
- 2 liters Water
- 1 medium Onion(chopped)
- 1 tsp Salt(or to taste)
- 0.5 tsp Black pepper(freshly ground)
- 1 tsp Optional: Marjoram(dried)
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Drain the soaked peas. Place the peas, pork, and chopped onion in a large pot.
💡 Tip: Soaking the peas overnight is crucial for even cooking and digestibility. - 2
Add the water to the pot. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer.
⏱️ 2-3 hours💡 Tip: Skim off any foam or impurities that rise to the surface during the first hour of cooking. - 3
Stir occasionally to prevent the peas from sticking to the bottom of the pot. The soup should thicken as it cooks.
💡 Tip: If the soup becomes too thick, add a little more water. - 4
Once the peas are very soft and the pork is tender, remove the pork from the pot. Shred or dice the pork and return it to the soup.
💡 Tip: Be careful when handling hot pork. - 5
Season the soup with salt, pepper, and marjoram (if using). Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
💡 Tip: Salt is often added towards the end of cooking, as pork can be salty. - 6
Serve hot, traditionally with a dollop of mustard and slices of dark rye bread.
💡 Tip: Hernekeitto is often followed by 'pannukakku' (baked pancake) for dessert on Thursdays.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓For a vegetarian version, omit the pork and use vegetable broth instead of water. Consider adding smoked tofu or mushrooms for depth of flavor.
- ✓If you don't have time to soak the peas overnight, you can use the quick-soak method: cover peas with water, bring to a boil for 2 minutes, then let stand for 1 hour.
- ✓The soup can be made ahead of time and reheated; its flavor often improves the next day.
🔄 Variations
- Some recipes use smoked ham hock for a deeper smoky flavor.
- A small amount of diced carrot can be added with the onion for sweetness.
- For a smoother soup, some people blend a portion of it before returning the pork.