Hernekeitto (Finnish Pea Soup with Smoked Pork)
In short: A thick soup of dried peas, smoked pork, onion and marjoram, simmered until creamy. The classic Finnish Thursday meal, served with mustard. It takes about 2 h 15 min in total and makes 6 servings.
- Prep
- 15 min
- Cook
- 2 h
- Resting
- 8 h
- Total
- 2 h 15 min
- Servings
- 6
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 280 kcal
Hernekeitto is Thursday food in Finland: school canteens, workplaces and many homes serve pea soup, followed by pancakes with jam. The soup is simple, just dried peas, smoked pork, onion and marjoram simmered until thick and a little grainy. Serve it with a spoonful of sharp mustard stirred in at the table.
Instructions
- Drain the soaked peas and put them in a large pot with the pork and the water. Bring to a boil and skim off the foam.
- Partly cover the pot and simmer for 1 hour and 15 minutes, until the peas start to fall apart.
- Add the onion, carrot and marjoram and simmer 30 minutes more, until the vegetables are soft and the soup is thick.
- Lift out the pork, cut it into small cubes, discarding any bone and rind, and return it to the pot.
- Season with salt and pepper, remembering that smoked pork is salty. Serve hot with mustard.
Tips
- Add the salt late. Smoked pork gives the soup a good deal of salt, and the broth reduces as it cooks.
- Whole dried peas hold their shape better, but split peas work too. They need no soaking and cook in about 45 minutes.
Questions and answers
Why do Finns eat pea soup on Thursdays?
It is a long-standing weekly habit in Finland, now kept up in schools, canteens and many homes. Pea soup is usually followed by pancakes with jam.
Can I freeze hernekeitto?
Yes. Freeze it in portions for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight and add a little water when reheating, since it thickens.
Do I have to soak the peas?
For whole peas, yes: soaking overnight shortens the cooking and makes them more even. Split peas can be cooked without soaking.
How long does it take to make Hernekeitto (Finnish Pea Soup with Smoked Pork)?
About 2 h 15 min in total: 15 min of preparation and 2 h of cooking.
How many calories are in Hernekeitto (Finnish Pea Soup with Smoked Pork)?
About 280 kcal per serving, with 20 g of protein, 32 g of carbohydrates and 8 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 280 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 20 g |
| Carbohydrates | 32 g |
| Fat | 8 g |
| Fiber | 10 g |
| Sugar | 5 g |
| Sodium | 1100 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
