Why it works: Peas and mint are a kitchen classic. They rank in the top 2% of all ingredient pairs, and cooks put them together in 1,137 recipes. Both carry 1-octen-3-ol, which smells mushroom, earthy. The science ↓
Split Pea Soup
Ingredients
Directions
Soak and cook
Soak the split peas in cold water overnight the night before preparation to soften them.
Drain the split peas.
Cover the split peas with fresh water in a saucepan.
Bring the water to a boil.
Reduce the heat and simmer for about an hour 15 minutes.
Add the onion, mint, and olive oil to the water after it boils.
Add boiling water as needed to top up.
Blend and serve
Take two thirds of the split peas and water and put them in a blender.
Blend the mixture until it is smooth.
Put the blended mixture back into the pan.
Put the pan back on the heat for a few minutes, stirring to ensure it is even.
Serve hot!
Nutrition, whole recipe (rough)
Counts 3 of 4 ingredients. The other 1 aren't in our nutrition table and add nothing above, so the real totals are higher.
What these numbers assume: 3 portions
| Ingredient | Portion assumed | kcal |
|---|---|---|
| Olive Oil | 1 tbsp (14g) | 119 |
| Pea | 1/2 cup (72g) | 62 |
| Onion | 1 medium (110g) | 44 |
| Peppermint | not in our table | 0 |
One typical portion per ingredient; the recipe's quantities are not counted. A rough guide only, not for medical or dietary planning.
Steps grouped into stages for easier reading; the method is the source's own.
Explore the science
The flavor team
The pairs that carry this dish. Each one is judged two ways: how much their aromas overlap, and how often cooks already put them together.
-
Peas + minttop 2% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together1,137 recipes
Shared aroma: 1-octen-3-ol (mushroom, earthy).
-
Onion + olivetop 8% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together29,779 recipes
Shared aroma: 2,4-decadienal (seaweed).
-
Peas + olivetop 8% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together2,066 recipes
Shared aroma: (z)-hex-3-en-1-ol (freshly cut grass green and herbaceous notes).
-
Mint + olivetop 10% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together2,240 recipes
Shared aroma: 2,4-decadienal (seaweed).
-
Peas + oniontop 13% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together5,460 recipes
Shared aroma: 2-isopropyl-3-methoxypyrazine (earthy, pea).
Ranks compare each pair with 20,000 random ingredient pairs on CompKitchen. How we score pairs
What each ingredient does
- Yellow split peas
- Break down during long simmering to give the soup its thick, body-filled texture.
- Onion
- Adds savoury sweetness and aroma as it softens into the broth.
- Olive oil
- Adds fat that carries flavour and gives the soup a smooth, rounded mouthfeel.
- Mint
- Contributes a fresh, aromatic note that brightens the earthy peas.
The step that matters
Simmering the split peas. Split peas must be fully softened and kept at a gentle simmer, adding boiling water as needed. If they dry out or boil too hard, they may scorch on the bottom or stay grainy, and the blended soup will be uneven.
Swap the onion
How well each one fits the dish's main ingredients (peas, mint, olive):
- Cucumberfits better
- Tomatofits better
- Lettucefits better
- Onionthe original
Fit is the average pairing score against peas, mint, olive. Candidates are from the same food group and used in at least 100 recipes.
“What each ingredient does” and “The step that matters” were written by Claude from this recipe’s own method and reviewed in samples by CompKitchen.
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