What exactly are split peas?
Split peas are much like the garden peas (Pisum sativum) that you buy in a can at the local grocery store. However, split peas are usually made from field peas. The field pea is simply a variation of the garden pea that was left to revert back to its wild state. How do they get split? It’s quite simple really. Once the field peas are dried, the skins fall off. The inner portion of the pea is already in two equal parts, hence the name split peas. So, the inside of the pea is what we are eating when we eat split peas. Split peas have been eaten in many cultures for centuries. As a matter of fact, around 400 B.C. vendors were selling hot pea soup in the streets of Athens! In India, split peas are often eaten in curries. A curry is a thick stew-like mixture of vegetables, often very spicy. Split peas are also used to make a popular dessert in Beijing.
