Snert (Dutch Split Pea Soup)
Cooking With KidsA classic, comforting Dutch specialty offering a rich tapestry of deep flavors and a velvety, thick texture. This dish harmonizes slow-cooked legumes and root vegetables with premium smoked meats, providing a distinctive aroma and a satisfyingly hearty finish. It is the quintessential choice for a nourishing meal on chilly days, showcasing European tradition at its finest.
- Prep
- 20 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- Medium
Instructions
- 1Gather the ingredients.
- 2In a large soup pot, bring water, split peas, pork belly or bacon, pork chop, and bouillon cube to a boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer, cover and let cook for 45 minutes, stirring occasionally and skimming off any foam that rises to the top.
- 3Remove the pork chop, debone, and thinly slice the meat. Set aside.
- 4Add the celery, carrots, potato, onion, leek, and celeriac to the soup. Return to the boil, reduce the heat to a simmer and let cook, uncovered, for another 30 minutes, adding a little extra water if the ingredients start to stick to the bottom of the pot.
- 5Add the smoked sausage for the last 15 minutes of cooking time. When the vegetables are tender, remove the bacon and smoked sausage, slice thinly and set aside.
- 6If you prefer a smooth consistency, purée the soup with a stick blender. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Add the meat back to the soup, setting some slices of rookworst aside.
- 7Serve in heated bowls or soup plates, garnished with slices of rookworst and chopped celery leaf.
Ingredients
- 2L Water
- 300g Peas
- 100g Pork
- 1 Vegetable Stock Cube
- 2 Celery
- 2 Carrots
- 1 large Potatoes
- 1 small Onion
- 1 small Leek
- 1 cup Celeriac
- 1 pound Sausages
Nutrition
- Calories
- 76
- Protein
- 7.1g
- Carbs
- 3.7g
Recommended Equipment & Products
- Immersion blender
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Family cooking
Cooking With Kids
Simple ways children can join safely, with adult guidance.
Age 3-5
Small helper
- Mash soft ingredients
- Wash fruit and vegetables
Age 6-8
Kitchen explorer
- Stir a batter
- Measure simple ingredients
Age 9+
Confident cook
- Read the steps
- Portion and shape
Adults only
Grown-up task
- Use heat
- Handle sharp tools
Adult supervision required. Match activities to the child's age and abilities.
Skills Kids Practice
- Following instructions
- Fine motor skills
- Counting
- Teamwork
A good moment to remind kids not to share spoons, to wash hands, and to check ingredients with an adult.
Chef tips
To achieve the thick and rich texture classic to Snert, make sure to cook the peas until they are completely soft and starting to fall apart, stirring occasionally to prevent them from sticking to the bottom of the pot. For a comforting kosher version, use high-quality smoked beef sausage to add incredible depth of flavor. Serve the soup with toasted rye bread and a side of mustard, just like they do in the Netherlands.
Culinary reasoning
A classic, comforting Dutch specialty offering a rich tapestry of deep flavors and a velvety, thick texture. This dish harmonizes slow-cooked legumes and root vegetables with premium smoked meats, providing a distinctive aroma and a satisfyingly hearty finish. It is the quintessential choice for a nourishing meal on chilly days, showcasing European tradition at its finest.


