9 Split Pea Suppers That Aren't Just the Same Ol' Soup

Green Pea Poulourie

Soaking split peas leaves them soft enough to puree into a batter with garlic, curry powder, salt, serrano pepper, and flour. Roll them into balls, then fry them to a delicious crisp.

Newfoundland Jigg's Dinner

With this recipe from Canada's easternmost providence, you're not just cooking split peas; you're cooking an entire dinner with corned beef, potatoes, and vegetables. "Make sure that the split peas are securely tied into a cloth bag (pudding bag), a dish towel or cheesecloth," recipe submitter MomWhoCooks says. "If they escape, you will not have a dinner, you will have pea soup!"

South Indian Lentil Kootu

Split peas, frozen peas, and red lentils team up in this simple, healthy South Indian stew. "I was skeptical since I have yet to find a way to like any kind of lentil," home cook StacyAnn says. "It looks beautiful and it tastes great and it was easy to prepare — even for a newbie like me."

• 25 Tasty Ways to Start Eating More Lentils

Cheater Gumbo

Not quite split pea soup, not quite gumbo, this recipe is 100 percent comforting. "The split peas (which I never really liked before) magically create the thickness, color, and flavor you traditionally get from roux, sautéed peppers, and celery, gumbo filé powder, and rice — without including any of them," recipe submitter Nicholio says. "This tastes even better the next day, as the peas continue to collapse and thicken the broth."

Afghan Beef Raviolis (Mantwo)

Split peas join ground beef in a tomato sauce that tops beef ravioli, while cool yogurt sauce with mint and garlic provides the perfect contrast. "It's such a gorgeous dish with its layers of different flavors and textures," home cook FrancesC says.

Jack's Old-Fashioned Beef and Vegetable Soup

This isn't your mother's split pea soup, but it's a handed-down family recipe nonetheless. "Each generation added to this recipe," recipe submitter J.Harbold says. "It's a very hearty soup my family begs for. I am now 76 and have yet to find one as rich." For that, you can thank beef bones, hunks of round steak, legumes, rice, and macaroni.

• Our 20 Top-Rated Soups Give You Comfort By the Bowlful

Powerhouse African Yam Stew

Split peas, red lentils, chickpeas, yams, and peanut butter thicken this stew to perfection. At eight servings, it makes substantial leftovers, and it freezes well.

• 12 Top-Rated Lentil Stew Recipes

Falafel II

Using split peas doesn't change much about falafel; these deep-fried patties turn out as tender and crumbly as falafel made with chickpeas or fava beans. Reviewer Mary Chris Harrison Boeh recommends eating them in a pita sandwich or atop a salad with dill and yogurt dressing.

• 20 Dinners That Start With a Can of Chickpeas

Moong Dal

Even though Moong Dal translates to mung beans, you can replace mung beans with yellow split peas here, says recipe submitter Pyromommy. Reviewers note that split peas take longer to cook, about an hour, but don't let that discourage you from taking on this aromatic recipe.

• See our entire collection of Dried Beans and Legume Recipes.