Pea Soup with Ham
Ingredients:
– 2 cups dried split peas
– 1 pound ham, diced
– 1 onion, chopped
– 2 cloves garlic, minced
– 2 carrots, diced
– 2 celery stalks, diced
– 4 cups chicken or vegetable broth
– 4 cups water
– 1 bay leaf
– Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
1. Rinse the dried split peas under cold water and remove any debris or stones. Drain well.
2. In a large pot, heat some oil over medium heat. Add the diced ham and cook until lightly browned. Remove the ham from the pot and set it aside.
3. In the same pot, add the chopped onion and minced garlic. Sauté until the onion becomes translucent and fragrant.
4. Add the diced carrots and celery to the pot and cook for about 5 minutes, until they start to soften.
5. Return the cooked ham to the pot and add the dried split peas, chicken or vegetable broth, water, and bay leaf.
6. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to low. Cover the pot and simmer for about 1 hour, or until the peas are tender and start to break down.
7. Remove the bay leaf from the soup and discard it. Using an immersion blender or a regular blender, puree the soup until smooth and creamy. Alternatively, you can leave some chunks of peas and ham for texture.
8. Season the pea soup with salt and pepper to taste. Adjust the seasoning as needed.
9. Serve the pea soup hot, garnished with some chopped fresh parsley or croutons, if desired.
Estimated cooking time: 1 hour and 15 minutes
Yield: Approximately 6 servings