Slow Cooker Vegetarian Split Pea Soup

Ingredients

• 1 pound (16 oz.) dried split peas, sorted
• 1 yellow onion, peeled and chopped
• 4 carrots, large diced
• 3 celery stalks, diced
• 1 clove garlic, minced (about 2 tsp)
• 1 teaspoon Kosher salt, plus more as needed
• ¼ teaspoon freshly ground pepper, plus more as needed
• 1 tsp smoked paprika (optional)
• 1 dried bay leaf
• ½ cup fresh parsley, chopped
• 4 sprigs fresh thyme, leaves removed (or 1 tsp dried thyme leaves)
• 7 cups vegetable broth