A comforting and flavorful split pea soup with a medley of vegetables, perfect for a cozy meal.
Prepare the vegetables by dicing the celery, carrots, and onion into small pieces.
Uniformly diced vegetables ensure even cooking and a consistent texture.
Combine the diced vegetables, minced garlic, split peas, thyme, bay leaf, water, salt, and pepper in the crock pot.
Layer the ingredients evenly for optimal flavor distribution.
Set the crock pot to low and cook for 6-8 hours until the split peas and vegetables are tender.
Stir occasionally if possible to prevent sticking.
Once cooked, use a hand blender to puree the soup until smooth, or press it through a fine sieve.
For a chunkier texture, blend only half of the soup.
Reheat the soup gently to the boiling point before serving.
Serve hot with a garnish of fresh herbs or a drizzle of olive oil for added flavor.